DR. FRANK ALPHONSO CROSSLEY
FEBRUARY 19, 1925 – APRIL 15, 2018
Dr. Frank A. Crossley, of the Village at Willow Crossings in Mansfield, MA, passed away at his daughter’s side on Sunday, April 15, 2018, at the age of 93 of Alzheimer’s Disease.
Frank was born to parents, Joseph and Rosa Lee Crossley (nee Brefford) on February 19, 1925, in Chicago, IL, the second of four children. He and his older brother Joe lived briefly with their paternal grandparents in Summit, MS, where a neighbor taught Frank, age four, and Joe, to read. Frank and Joe would graduate together from Du Sable High School in Chicago in 1942. A black chemist would speak before Frank’s Du Sable science class, planting the dream that changed his life.
Frank, about to launch an academic career in Nashville, TN, met ELAINE J. SHERMAN at a July 4th picnic in Dayton, OH, while on vacation in 1950 and proposed marriage on their first date. Elaine thought him crazy but consented on their third date. Frank had the kindest eyes she had ever seen. They married at the home of Elaine’s parents, ARTHUR ALEXANDER “LABE” SHERMAN, SR. and ROSA HIGHTOWER SHERMAN in Cincinnati on Thanksgiving 1950, their “eighth date.” The newlyweds lived in Nashville, TN, from 1950-1952. Frank disliked the South so much that he refused to have children until they relocated. Their daughter, Desne, was born in Chicago in 1954.
“People envision their options based on what others like them have done and are doing. If a picture is worth a thousand words, a meaningful one-on-one exchange is worth a thousand pictures.”
Frank was a recognized authority in the field of titanium metallurgy and awarded six patents—five on titanium-base alloys including the “Transage” alloys. He published 60 technical papers and made eight presentations at national symposia, not published in print media. He was past chairman of the Titanium Committee of Minerals, Metals & Materials Society of the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers. He served on the Materials Technical Committee of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics from 1979 through 1981. His work incorporated academic, government and corporate worlds—teaching, research and development, and management in the following organizations: Aerojet Propulsion Division, 1987 – 1991; Aerojet Propulsion Research Institute, 1986 – 1987; Lockheed Missiles & Space Company, Sunnyvale, CA, 1966 – 1986; Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL, 1952 – 1966; and Tennessee A&I State University, 1950 – 1952. He felt fortunate to apply his curiosity and skills across disciplines and professional roles, especially given the racism of his time. He was a Fellow of the American Society of Metals and received the Professional Service Award of the Northern California Council of Black Professional Engineers in 1981. He received the GenCorp Aerojet 1990 R. B Young Technical Innovation Award for “Improved Process for Diffusion Bonding Platelet Assemblies of Dissimilar Alloys.” He earned PhD and MS degrees in Metallurgical Engineering and a BS degree in Chemical Engineering (with a minor in Art) from the Illinois Institute of Technology (1950, 1947, 1945 respectively). Frank Crossley was the first African-American to earn a PhD in Metallurgical Engineering, at 25-years of age in 1950. He was the first alumnus of Illinois Institute of Technology—of any color—to earn a PhD in Metallurgical Engineering. His dissertation was entitled, “Grain Refinement by the Particle Reaction in Aluminum and the Aluminum Base Alloys.” Frank is listed in many publications, including Marquis’ Who’s Who in the World, 27th – present editions, 2010 -; in Who’s Who in America since 1980; and in the chapter, “Stronger Than Steel,” of the book, We Could Not Fail: First African-Americans in the Space Program, written by Stephen Moss and Richard Paul, 2015.
He was denied an employment interview, and once was overlooked for promotion because he “was ‘so advanced for a Negro’ the manager thought I was content.” Frank pushed back. Later, he would say, “self-confidence is the most important skill of all.”
Frank was among the first African-American military officers in WWII, as a US Navy Ensign (active 1944-1946). He was a member of honor societies: Sigma Xi (science); Tau Beta Pi (engineering); Phi Lambda Upsilon (chemistry); and Pi Delta Epsilon (journalism).
“It is important to encourage the dreams of others.”
Frank was a volunteer math and science tutor from 1948 – 2012; a member of the Concerned Parents of Color at Greater Framingham Community Church; and he enjoyed painting in watercolors, Hatha yoga twice daily, photography, history, reading non-fiction, carpentry, hiking, and tree surgery. He was a man of patience, humanity, a quick smile, and one-liner jokes.
Frank is survived by his daughter DESNE CROSSLEY and son-in-law KENNETH B. HOLLMAN; younger sister, INEZ CROSSLEY WILLIAMS; sister-in-law VERA CROSSLEY; daughters-in-law FREDDE HOLLMAN (Kenneth’s sister) and MAGGIE JEAN HOLLMAN; a host of nieces and nephews (WILLIAMS, BELL, CROSSLEY, SHERMAN, and HOLLMAN families). He is preceded in death by his beloved wife ELAINE SHERMAN CROSSLEY (d. 1996); his parents DADDY BUDDIE AND MOTHER ROSE CROSSLEY; Elaine’s parents, LABE AND ROSA SHERMAN; his brothers LEVERNE (younger) and JOSEPH, JR. (older); brothers-in-law: DALLAS, SR. (ELIZABETH), JACK, SR. (BEATRICE), CHARLES (HAZEL DIV; LILY), ARTHUR, JR. (JEANNE); brother-in-law GEORGE WILLIAMS; sisters-in-law: MARY SHERMAN BELSINGER (RALPH), LOUISE, and ROSE SHERMAN.
Frank’s body will be cremated by the Sherman and Jackson Funeral Home, 55 N. Main Street, Mansfield, MA 02048; memorial services are being planned for Greater Framingham Community Church, 44 Franklin Street (at Park), Framingham, MA 01704, and in Cincinnati, OH. His ashes will be scattered next to Elaine’s at Walnut Hills Cemetery in Cincinnati. Beyond Frank’s GFCC church family, family and friends are spread across the country, so details will be forthcoming.
“Time spent doing one thing is time that cannot be spent doing another.”
God bless you, Dad, in your homegoing. You were and are the best father on the planet! Rest in Peace, sweetheart.
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