James Watson Crink

HAVERHILL - James Watson Crink was called home on Friday, October 11, 2024. Jim was able to say his goodbyes to his family and friends and receive all the love he deserved. Jim was born in Cleveland, OH on March 1,1936, the only child to his parents, Elmer S. Crink (1899-1993) and Benita W. Crink (1909-1950). He is predeceased by his wife, Brenda Jefferson Crink to whom he was married for 59 years. He is survived by his daughter, Wendy C. Madden (Michael) of Boxford, MA and his grandchildren Ryan J. Douglas, Benjamin, and Erin. Also surviving Jim are two of his cousins, Robert "Bob" Crink of Boothbay Harbor, ME and Joan Crink Laurie of Chandler, AZ.
He was raised in Chagrin Falls, OH and was a proud "Tiger" graduating in 1954 in a class of just 44. He played basketball and ran track.
After one year at Ohio University, he enlisted in the Marines from 1955 to 1961 (LCPL). On a weekend leave to Connecticut with his buddy Thomas, he met his sister and married her in 1962.
With an infant at home, Jim attended University of Bridgeport and got his BS in Economics. He went on to work for the Union Trust Bank in Systems Analysis. He worked on the "Tabby" project which was one of the very first ATM machines. He worked until the bank had a merger and retired early. After a few "just for fun" jobs, he and Brenda retired full time to Inverness, FL until moving to Massachusetts to be close to their daughter and family in 2019.
Jim's family will celebrate his life with a family party followed by an "open house" for friends at a future date. He will be laid to rest at Spring Grove Cemetery in Darien, CT alongside his wife, Brenda. Please see "A Tribute to Dad" for more about Jim's life. www.driscollcares.com
Jim was a staunch advocate for the Resident Care Staff at Haverhill Crossings on Amesbury Road in Haverhill where he lived for the past five years. He'd be thrilled to know that in his memory donations would be made to those who cared for him and for those he cared for: Resident Care Associates and Nurses at Haverhill Crossings Assisted Living | Checks payable to: HX Holiday Fund, 254 Amesbury Road, Haverhill, MA 01830.
Arrangements by Driscoll Funeral Home, Haverhill, MA. For guest book, visit www.driscollcares.com
A Tribute To Dad:
Dad's favorite color was blue. He never met a meal he didn't like, but especially loved Italian food. Henceforth, his nickname of BP (bottomless pit). He had a dog named Pat and a cat who left lots of "gifts" on the porch. Pat was very protective of her charge. When I moved off to college my replacement was a Bichon named Aimee Leigh of Hollow Tree (no, not spoiled at all!!).
Dad spent many summers as a free-range kid in Chagrin Falls, OH. He built a basketball hoop with his dad that was "the place" for all the kids to come and shoot hoops. He spent many summers visiting his grandparents in Milford, Ill on their farm. Just as school was letting out one year, he broke his arm leaping off the swing. Another year he contracted Polio, but was fortunately not affected after the virus ran its course. As he got older he worked summers at Halford dairy farm and got to do all the fun "tractor stuff". One summer he and his dad (who was a school teacher) worked alongside each other at the farm - one of the best summers, as he recounts; Being with dad.
After just turning 14 his mother passed away. He never got to say goodbye. Children weren't let in on these discussions or even to the hospital. It was a sadness he carried his whole life. As he got older he realized just how much he needed his mother during those latter years of his youth.
Dad and I were a team; Best friends in many ways. We spent a lot of time together going to the dump, digging in the garden, playing hoops, tennis, softball and paddle tennis. He taught me to sail. His first boat was a little yellow sunfish he named "Half Fast". I'd crew with him while he was learning to sail in races at Weed Beach in Darien. Of course as I was a fifth grader, he was looking for "less weight" on the boat and finally went with our neighbor, little Jimmy Orr! Just about every summer we vacationed on Cape Cod at my cousin's cabin in Dennisport. Dad would bring our canoe and the Sunfish. He'd meet up and sail with the Orrs there as well. His sailing regatta adventures took us to the Adirondacks to Canada Lake where we brought his newly acquired Force 5 and the canoe and had several wonderful vacations boating, picking black raspberries on the trails, eating meals at old hunting lodges, and sitting reading on the porch of the Canada Lake Motel. He also ventured into crewing on some very large sailboats for some overnight races in Long Island Sound and around Rhode Island and Provincetown, MA.
We watched tv in the den together - a favorite being This Old House. Most nights ended with our dish of ice cream and he taught me to lick the bowl clean. When I was very young, I would linger as the 8 p.m. show was about to start and then he'd shoo me up to bed. Friday nights were often Post Corner Pizza nights (IYKYK).
Dad was active in bowling leagues at Rip Van Winkle Lanes, played tennis and paddle tennis at Weed Beach where we'd have parties with their friends and our cousin. He became a Power Squadron instructor. As I got into running track and field, he picked up running again. He ran the Ridgefield Marathon, the Long Island Newsday Marathon, and in 1981 finished the NYC Marathon (although under a different name since the guy couldn't run it. Can't do that these days!!). He rarely missed a sporting event of mine. He came to field hockey games and indoor and outdoor track meets. He was even commandeered to be a timer at the meets. He loved helping out. He knew the names of all the girls on the team and cheered for them. He would plant himself on the opposite side of the track (the dead zone for cheering) to encourage them. He got many thank yous at the end of a grueling race from many of the girls. He was truly a "track dad" to the whole team. When I moved on to UConn, he and my mom would travel to my meets, even going as far as Villanova for our Big East Championship. His love of sports continued throughout his life. He watched all the NCAA softball games, the NCAA women's basketball - a HUGE UCONN fan. He continued to follow the women into their WNBA careers. He looked forward to watching all the sporting events in the Olympics. When his grandchildren began their sporting adventures he loved coming to their events and hearing about their meets, etc. He very much enjoyed being able to attend one of Erin's XC meets at Westfield State. Of course his hometown teams will forever and always be the Cleveland Indians and the Cleveland Browns. And he'll always be a Buckeye!
When the grandkids were small he enjoyed bringing them to the Cape for a camping trip in the trailer and going to Disney World, SeaWorld, and Busch Gardens. As many sporting events as he could attend, he did. Eagle Scout ceremonies and Memorial Day Parades were other favorites. Otherwise, he enjoyed hearing about all their activities, school, friends, sports, jobs, etc. He was proud of them all as he watched them grow to adulthood. He was especially happy to have been able to know the kids' "significant others", give his last "words of wisdom", and share a toast with them in his last days.
"St. James", as my Mimi dubbed him, had many interests and was always willing to chat with someone and make a friend. He taught me to drive a stick shift. He put up an above ground pool and played with me and the Alletson girls from across the street, tossing us in over and over and over again. He loved maps. We would pore over a map before our vacation trips and he'd show me exactly what route we were going to take so I could follow along in the car. He dubbed me Motor Mouth, because the entire 10 hour drive to Ohio, I'd talk. He made a stand in the basement for a squat bar when I was in junior high so I could get stronger for my sports. He enjoyed doing his "square foot gardening". Our pool finally collapsed. He turned it into a round patio complete with a hole in the middle to put a tetherball pole. We had many family BBQs enjoying the pool and many enjoying the patio he built to take its place. His work bench had a place for every tool. Some tools were in their original box with the instructions and tied with twine ( a habit from his dad). You could find everything. He loved tinkering and fixing. You saved things because you never knew when it would come in handy. ( I know because I'm the one that cleaned out their house in FL when they moved to MA). He was in the Marines for five years. He still has his duffle, his USMC spoon, and his two Marine-issued wool blankets. ( Yes, Dad, they do come in handy; Kept me warm when we had no power during the storm of '78.)
Dad would take me shopping to pick out nice gifts for my mother for her birthday and Christmas. It was usually a night gown in her favorite blue or peach color. Once it was an opal. We would go to the gas station in Stamford to pick out our Charlie Brown Christmas tree, which I recall only being $5! We didn't have a big house, so it had to fit. It was always beautiful with the colorful lights and decorations and didn't lack for gifts on Christmas morning. Our front porch lights were one red and one green. ( ???) Port and Starboard, of course! We cross country skied in the winter. He joined a ski group and took up downhill. He golfed. He enjoyed his beers from the very light to the very dark. He enjoyed his Maker's Mark Whiskey. He took up chili making and pie baking. He read the Reader's Digest every morning with his coffee and breakfast. Our radio played in the kitchen. Lots of Johnny Cash and The Four Lads.
Baseball caps and t-shirts from his travels; Can't have too many! Mom and dad criss-crossed the country in their fifth wheel and visited many of the Canadian provinces as well. He loved his Australian kangaroo hat. Kind of a signature look for him. He still has his postman's sweater. Wore it to the very end. He had a strong voice and a big presence. He volunteered at Fort Cooper in Inverness Fl and was treasurer of their homeowner's association for nine years. He was president of the resident's council at Haverhill Crossings for a bit.
Other than visiting often and taking him to appointments, our last big adventure as father-daughter was our trip to Ireland in 2021. It was an unforgettable trip with lots of good memories to pile on top of the wonderful life he launched for me. Love you Dad
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