Douglas Cole Crane

Douglas Cole Crane passed away peacefully at 84 on March 23, 2018. He moved to Florida from New Jersey in 1950 with his parents, Donald and Doris Crane, and his twin brother Don, Jr. Together they became a part of the Beaches community by attending Fletcher High School. After attending Sewanee for 2 1/2 years, they transferred to UNC Chapel Hill, graduating in 1956. Returning to Ponte Vedra in 1960, he began his career in the boat business by opening Beach Marine Sales and eventually becoming President of Beach Marine in Jacksonville Beach. After leaving Beach Marine, Crane formed St. Augustine Sailing, a company specializing in sailboat sales and instruction. As a local businessman, Crane joined the Beaches
Rotary Club in 1961 eventually becoming a charter member of the Ponte Vedra Rotary Club and serving as president in 1993. He was named Beaches Industrialist of the Year in 1961. Since recreational boating was his business, Crane was named three times as President of the Jacksonville Marine Association and served as Director of the Beaches Area Chamber of Commerce. Appointed by Governor Bob Graham in 1979, Crane served for ten years as Commissioner of the Florida Inland Navigation District, first for Duval and then St. Johns County. A boat ramp and park in St. Augustine was named for him in appreciation of his service to St. Johns County. As he believed in the importance of preserving the uniqueness of the
Ponte Vedra community where he and his family lived, Crane was happy to serve as Chairman of the Ponte Vedra Municipal Service District and on the boards of the Ponte Vedra Community Association, Ponte Vedra Zoning Board and Ponte Vedra Board of Adjustments as well as a volunteer in the fire department. Crane was a cross-country runner in college; he loved to ski, and as a member of the Ponte Vedra Inn and Club, he enjoyed playing tennis and golf. After retirement he and his wife took many trips with friends and visited family in different parts of the world.
He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Jacqueline, and two children: Douglas C. Crane, Jr. (Dr. Dianne Morse) and Blair C. Speciale (Mark) by his first wife, Rev. Jane E. Crane (deceased) and step-daughter Christina P. Baheri and grandchildren: Sterling Cole Crane; Isabella, Samuel and Lucas Speciale; Dillon and Sabrina Baheri as well as his brother, Donald R. Crane, Jr.
A memorial service will be held at 12:00 noon on Tuesday, April 3 at Christ Episcopal Church, 400 San Juan Drive, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. In lieu of flowers the family requests any donations be made to: Fleet Landing Scholarship Fund, One Fleet Landing Blvd., Atlantic Beach, FL 32233.
Arrangements by: Neptune Society-Jacksonville (904) 733-4510.