Ralph Snow Crossan, longtime resident of Andover and beloved husband of the late Ann Jane Crossan (Schwolow) died Monday April 17th from complications of advanced Alzheimer’s. He was 92 years old. Ralph leaves two sons, Peter A. of Boston, Dale R. of Westlake, Ohio, and his daughter Laura J. Van Ryswood and husband Scott Van Ryswood. Ralph was a devoted grandfather, active in the lives of seven grandchildren; Samuel W. of Boston, Eleanor O. of Washington D.C., Sarah M. of Wenham, Conrad S. Van Ryswood of New Jersey, Tabor O. of Eastham, Otto A. his wife Theresa and great granddaughter Vanessa I. of Eastham and Jacob of Westlake, Ohio.
Born May 3rd, 1925 in Swampscott to the late Howard and Mildred (Snow) Crossan was raised in Medford and 1943 graduate of Medford High School. A WWII veteran, Ralph served as an Army paratrooper in the Philippines. Following military service Ralph attended Tufts University after graduating from the Engineering School in 1950 he worked out of state for Dupont. In 1953, due his mother’s illness Ralph returned to Medford and began working for Cox Engineering as estimator retiring 40 years later as Vice President in 1993. In 1954 he married Ann Jane Schwolow remaining in Medford until 1958 when they moved with son Peter to Melrose. In 1964, with three children, Peter, Dale, and Laura, Ralph and Ann moved to Andover. In Andover Ralph served the town as Chairman of Building Committees for the Doherty and Shawsheen schools. In 2010 Ann and Ralph moved to Edgewood in North Andover.
Ralph was predeceased by his two sisters, Marguerite (Crossan) Bennett and Ruth Crossan Reeder. He also leaves his daughter-in-law Margaret O. Smith of Wenham, life-long friend and brother-in-law, William Reeder, two nephews David and Steven Reeder, and niece Susan Reeder Moss.
His Funeral Service will be celebrated in the Beals-Geake-Magliozzi Funeal Home, 29 Governors Avenue, Medford on Tuesday, April 24, 2018, at 11:30 AM. Visitation will be held in the funeral home, prior to the service, from 10:00 to 11:30 AM. Interment will be privately held. For additional information, please visit, www.magliozzifuneralhome.com.