Benjamin Herbert Cranson

One of the kindest people in the world passed away on February 27, 2025. Benjamin Herbert
Cranson, a beloved child of God (born June 26, 1975) ended his last day after a brutal five year
battle with cancer. Despite very long odds, Ben fought incredibly hard with resilience, strength
and a positive attitude that serves as a model for us all. Ben's courage and determination gave
him an extra five years with his beloved wife Nicole and the treasures of his life, his son Henry
and daughter June. Ben will always live on in the hearts of his parents, Kenneth and Katherine
Cranson along with his brothers Matthew, Peter, and David Cranson and their families.
Ben grew up in Sterling, MA, attended Wachusett High School and went on to study audio
engineering in college. He loved soccer, Boy Scouting, playing bass and guitar and being with
his friends. Early on, Ben demonstrated the attributes that made him friends with everyone:
kindness, humor, positive energy and a genuine, caring interest in all who were close to him. As
a young man Ben moved to California and fell in love with the mountains and West Coast
culture. He proceeded to make friends with everyone who came into his life. Ben enjoyed
snowboarding and harnessed his passion into becoming a top ski and snowboard tuner. It was
through snowboarding that he built a relationship with Nicole after they first met in 2006. They
moved on to San Francisco to continue their careers and were married in Laguna Beach in
October of 2012. After several years in retail, Ben, with his business partner Caitlin Faust, went
on his own to start Wanderer's Outpost, an outdoor adventure store providing equipment and
apparel for outdoor enthusiasts.
But more important than tuning equipment or starting his own business, Ben would say his most
important and favorite role, was being a father to Henry and June. Ben embraced parenthood
and threw himself into his kids' activities and sports, despite grueling treatments that included
years of chemotherapy and surgeries. Family was always paramount to Ben and he relished
time with Nicole's family in CA as well as his parents, brothers and extended family back East in
MA.
A West Coast memorial service will be held in the chapel at San Clemente Presbyterian Church
on Saturday, April 26 at 1pm in San Clemente, CA. Please remember Ben for all the great times
you had with him, so that he may live on in your heart, where his memory will brighten the rest
of your days.