Paul A. Crane

NORTH ANDOVER — Paul A. Crane, a pioneering shoe manufacturer whose factory produced the original Dunham Tyrolean work boot in the mid-1950's, died early Friday morning, March 14, 2008 at the Edgewood Retirement Community in North Andover. Mr. Crane was 87-years-old.

Mr. Crane was born in Worcester, grew up in Worcester and Albany, N.Y. and graduated from Yale University and Harvard Business School. At the age of 28, he purchased Roberts Hart, a bankrupt shoe manufacturing company in Keene, N.H., and in short order restored the company to profitability. He and his factory foreman developed the first yellow/orange work boot that became an industry standard, distributed throughout the United States by Dunham Shoe Company of Brattleboro, Vt.

Mr. Crane's entrepreneurial management expertise in the soft good industry was recognized by industry leaders, and he became president of the New England Shoe Manufacturing Association and senior vice president of the Footwear Manufacturers of America. He later became chief executive officer of Dunham, Inc and chief operating officer of G.H. Bass and Company, makers of Bass Weejuns.

Mr. Crane served in the Navy, both in the United States and overseas during World War II.

Mr. Crane married Margaret Simon in 1943. In addition to his wife of 65 years, he leaves two sons, Charles Jeffrey of Gardner, Maine and Andrew Barry of Jamaica Plain. He also leaves a sister, Suzanne Rosenthal of Albany, N.Y., two grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and numerous nephews and nieces through three generations.

ARRANGEMENTS: At the request of the family, funeral arrangements are private and are by H.L. Farmer & Sons Funeral and Cremation Service, Haverhill and Bradford. A celebration of his life will be held at Edgewood Retirement Community, 575 Osgood St. in North Andover, at 4 p.m. on Friday, March 21. Condolences to his family may be made at www.farmerfuneralhomes.com.