Manahawkin, New Jersey
Dreaming of Key West
Christopher Cramer had 317 days left and he would be gone for good.
Gone to Florida. Taking the buyout and retiring at 35.
And just like his man Jimmy Buffett, he was going to live on an island and fish and grow fat drinking beer.
"He wanted to get down there before he went totally gray," said his fiancée, Tracy Pereless, who was with him for four years, ever since they ran into each other in the bread aisle at the A&P. "That's what New York did to him for 11 years, turned him gray," she said. "He started at 7:10 and he hated it."
Mr. Cramer lived in commuter hell, driving more than 200 miles a day from his home in Long Beach, N.J., to the World Trade Center and back. He worked as vice president of tax operations for Fiduciary Trust Company International.
His home was on a lagoon, and on the weekends he fished from his deck and drank beer with his people and dreamed of Key West.
He was loved by his parents and three brothers and sister and fiancée. And if they could, they would apologize to him for forgetting to play Jimmy Buffett at his memorial.
It's been a bit bud. 22 years later it still crushes me. Jimmy is with you now so it must be an amazing time. Older and wiser I still regret not having you down for a visit. Fins up.
Ed Meyerink
September 10, 2023 | Friend
Praying for Chris' family. We will never forget.
Del Newberry
December 15, 2021 | Heartland, TX
I can't believe it's been 20 years. I know we would still be talking every now and then and you would have moved to Florida by now and we probably would have been hanging out again. Think of you often!
Karen Lexa
September 11, 2021 | LADY LAKE, FL
Remembering Christopher on the 20th anniversary of 9/11...
Cindy Roe
September 05, 2021 | Galesburg, MI
Thinking of you almost 20 years later after the 9 11 attacks . I´m down in Long Beach Island, NJ . You are missed by all who knew you.
Fiduciary Friend
July 02, 2021
Hi buddy, thinking about you today as I always do this time each year. Busy time for us. Hurricane evacuation this weekend and possibly another one next weekend. Living on the beach is great but hurricane season stinks. Wife and I are downsizing, instead of a boat were going to get a 5th wheel and travel the country. Perhaps when we are.done we'll move into the new Margaritaville retirement community up the street. Yup he bought swamp for old people. 5k got canceled this year and will...
Ed Meyerink
September 11, 2017 | Bluffton, SC
Getting ready for tomorrow. Thinking about you and other friends that I'll be praying for tomorrow. I got to see Jimmy in concert. Hit the islands again, you would have enjoyed the trip. You had the right idea, someday i think my wife and i will relocate. Im going to do the Tunnel to Tower run Saturday. This year I will walk, the foots bothering me again. Prayers to you again buddy. Miss you.
Ed Meyerink
September 10, 2015 | Bluffton, SC
Waited to today to say hi again. Since I've given up light beers in favor of craft beers I've taken up running to keep the weight off. Yesterday I ran the Tunnel to Tower 5k in Savannah. Made it all the way but killed my time when I had to stop for the 350 boy and girl scouts holding photos of the deceased fire men who came to help. I guess old men can cry too. Almost done with the Caribbean Margaritaville challenge. Grand Caynan and Ochrois This year we hit as far as St Kitts and Nevus...
Ed Meyerink
September 14, 2014 | Bluffton, SC
Remembering you Chris! Singing Frank Sinatra and Tom Petty at Moore's are some of my best memories. Miss ya. Prayers to your family.
Karen
September 12, 2014
