Jeffrey Raymond Craddock

Jeffrey Raymond Craddock, a longtime Medford resident and cherished husband of Elissa Carreras, father of Julia Simone, Theresa Nicole and Davis Francisco Craddock, known for his kindness, empathy, creativity and immense capacity to bring joy to those around him, died at age 58 on Saturday, November 30, 2024. Jeff's death leaves an unfillable void in the lives he touched, yet we find comfort in the beautiful memories and everlasting love we shared.
Funeral services will be celebrated at Grace Episcopal Church, 160 High Street, Medford on Saturday, December 14th at 10:30am followed by a burial at Oak Grove Cemetery, Medford at 12pm and a reception at Grace Church at 1pm. Family and friends are invited to attend all or part of Jeff's services, as they are able. The family respectfully requests that guests wear an item of purple to the service. It was Jeff's favorite color and is representative of the Alzheimer's Association.
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, on August 24, 1966, Jeff was the beloved son of Raymond Stanley and Theresa Gertrude (Hayes) Craddock and brother to Steven Paul and Karen Theresa Craddock. The family later moved to Sharon, Massachusetts where Jeff attended Sharon High School. While at SHS, Jeff became a cornerstone of school life and made many lifelong friendships. An exceptional athlete, Jeff was inducted into the SHS Hall of Fame for basketball, football and track. He later attended Northeastern University where he graduated with a degree in Communications and Film Studies. He enjoyed a fulfilling career with cherished colleagues at Harvard Business School as a Post Production Manager in Media Services for over 17 years.
Jeff was an avid film buff and loved all aspects of the art form. He directed several independent short films, two of which were screened at the Los Angeles Shorts Festival. Sharing his passion for movies shaped the interests of his children today. His taste in music was diverse but he especially enjoyed Jazz, specifically Miles Davis. Jeff enjoyed a variety of outdoor activities; he hiked, biked, ran several Superhero Runs and completed three Spartan Runs with a dear friend. Above all, Jeff was a committed family man. He worked tirelessly to find and renovate their beautiful home. He was exceptionally devoted to his wife and each of his three children. He honored them as individuals while spending time together building a strong family and making laughter resonate from the home they named, "Goodlife".
In response to his diagnosis with Younger-Onset Alzheimer's at age 51, Jeff decided to publicly share his journey to help others facing the disease and increase awareness and support for the research efforts and services provided by the Alzheimer's Association. Jeff and his wife, Elissa purchased a retired school bus, converted it to a mobile home, painted it purple and took to the road with their three children and dog, Macey. During their "ALZ Together on the Brightside" tour, they traveled the East Coast making informal presentations along the way, sharing their story and listening to others'. They were successful fundraisers for the Alzheimer's Association and were featured in the Boston Globe, People.com, Wicked Local Medford, WBZ News Radio and a documentary short produced by the Alzheimer's Association. Jeff's courage to share openly was a source of hope and inspired others to get involved and support efforts to find a cure. Jeff's final gift to support Alzheimer's research will be an enduring legacy.
Jeff's wife and children wish to express their deep gratitude to those who faithfully supported them through their 7 year journey with Alzheimer's, especially their community at Grace Episcopal Church in Medford, the generous donors for ALZ Together on the Brightside, the staff and students at Medford Vocational and Technical High School, Community Family Adult Day Health Center, the residents, staff and family members of E Unit at Regalcare Courtyard Nursing and Care Center, VNA Hospice Care and the MA/NH Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a gift to a college fund for the Craddock children through Venmo @Elissa_Carreras or by check sent to 67 Brookings Street, Medford, MA 02155. Alternatively, a gift in memory of Jeffrey Craddock can be made to the Alzheimer's Association at ALZ.org.
Jeff's beautiful spirit made an indelible mark on everyone fortunate enough to know him. Though he will be missed every single day, his love and light continue to shine; a testament to the extraordinary person he was and always will be.
For additional information, please visit www.magliozzifuneralhome.com