Frederick Lee Crawford

Frederick (Fred) Lee Crawford, 82, passed away quietly on Sunday, January 8, 2017 at his home in Richmond, CA. Born to Richard and Pensacola Crawford, Fred attended Columbus (Ohio) Public Schools and graduated from East High School. Fred would go on to attend two years of college before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force where he achieved the rank of Sergeant - Intelligence Operations Specialist stationed in London, England. Honorably discharged, Fred would return to Columbus where he resumed his education and became the first in his family to graduate college. He received a B.A in Sociology Philosophy from Otterbein College (Westerville, Ohio) and later his M.S.W. from The Ohio State University. Fred’s professional career would begin at the Ohio Department of Mental Hygiene before relocating to the bay area where he would assist the mentally challenged in both San Francisco and Pleasanton (CA). Both articulate and insightful, Fred was called into the teaching profession where he served at Merced Community College (Instructor), Cal State (Asst. Prof.), and as Executive Director of the Booker T. Washington Community Center (S.F.). Ultimately helping others called yet again where he would serve patients at the Marin County Addiction Treatment Center before moving to the S.F. Institute of Criminal Justice before completing his career of service at Kaiser Permanente (Psychiatry Dept.). A community servant as well, Fred was a board member of the African Immigrant Refugee Resource Center of S.F. He also served as President of the Westside Community Mental Health Center S.F. and was a board member of the S.F. Suicide Prevention Center. Lastly, Fred was a member of the (Sacto, Merced) N.A.A.C.P and would also have the honor of serving San Francisco as a member of the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on Aging. Survived by his brother Richard (Eva) Crawford of Columbus, OH; niece Tanya Yates, nephews, Rick (Laura Palko) Crawford and Ken (Shelly) Crawford, all of Columbus, along with a host of relatives from coast to coast. Fred was preceded in death by his parents and sisters, Alice Crawford, Velma Crawford-Yates and brother, James Crawford. At his request, Fred has returned home to Ohio for his interment. No service will be held in the bay area. Celebration of Life 10 a.m., Thursday, January 26, 2017 in the chapel of DIEHL-WHITTAKER FUNERAL SERVICE, 720 East Long St., Columbus, Ohio 43203. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Booker T. Washington Community Service Center - 1100 Divisadero; San Francisco, California 94115.