George David CRANTON Sr.

CRANTON, George David Sr. 1936-2012, of St. Petersburg. George passed away peacefully at home in his sleep after a brief illness on Sept. 14, 2012. He spent his final days surrounded by his loving family, at one point concurring with George Jr. that all the women around him sure did talk a lot. Born in Massachusetts, George began a life-long interest in the respiratory field, working with his father on iron lungs in Boston hospitals during the polio epidemic. He moved to Gainesville in 1958 to head the Inhalation Therapy department at the University of Florida teaching hospital. In 1964, he moved to St. Petersburg, and later implemented the respiratory certification program at St. Anthony's Hospital. Always busy, always thinking, George invented and patented many respiratory products, including the Cranwall and RF Mac laryngoscopes. Committed to improving the field of Anesthesiology, George didn't patent all his inventions because he felt they were so useful, they should be widely available. He served on the ISO Committee for standardization of anesthesiology equipment. A successful entrepreneur, he founded several companies Florida Anesthesia Services, Mercury Enterprises, Bay Medical, SunMed and PriMedCo. Many words come to mind when describing George, Dad, Pop,Grampa. a true Renaissance man, intelligent, witty, visionary, teacher, a classic New England gentleman. Big booming voice, "HELLO THERE." He was partial to a tie and dress slacks, no dungarees please. He loved fine dining and good company. His generosity touched everyone in his life. An avid Tony Stewart fan, George never missed a NASCAR race. George leaves behind his devoted long-time partner Edie Ross Bond; 3 daughters and one son, Terry Douglas and husband Dion of Hinsdale, MA, Allison Carlson of Tampa, Christina Cranton of St. Petersburg, George Jr. and wife Caroline of Orlando; 6 grandchildren, Kristin Douglas Zuber, Tyler, Evan and Amy Carlson, Rowan Cranton, Faylynn Messer; and 2 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by brothers, Theodore and Laurence. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Suncoast Hospice in George's memory. A remembrance service to honor and celebrate George's wonderful life will be held at a later date.