Jeffrey Philip Craig

1947 - 2021

Jeffrey Philip Craig

Thousand Oaks - Jeffrey Philip Craig, 73, of Thousand Oaks, CA, passed away at Los Robles Regional Medical Center on Sunday, February 7th, 2021.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, commemorative services are being postponed until a later date.

Born in Glendale, California on February 18th, 1947, Jeff grew up in cities across the United States, before returning to Southern California. His father, Teddy Otto Craig Jr. of Joplin, Missouri, served in the Air Force, causing the family to move frequently. Jeff's childhood was spent in California, Texas, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Florida. His mother, Miriam Houghton Barnes of Minneapolis, Minnesota, raised Jeff and his older sister, Sandy Craig, by herself while his father served in the pacific theater of WWII, and later while his father was stationed in Okinawa, Japan.

As a child, Jeff spent many years in the Boy Scouts of America, an interest shared by his father, uncle, and sons. Jeff also earned the distinguished Eagle Scout Award. Scouting was a passion that he followed the rest of his life, serving in many leadership roles including Scoutmaster and Eagle Advancement Chair for the Ventura County Council. In 1964, Jeff graduated from Rutherford High School in Panama City, Florida, and in 1970 graduated with a double bachelor's degree in history and chemistry from San Fernando Valley College, now known as California State University Northridge (CSUN).

Soon after graduation, Jeff began working full-time at CSUN as a network communications analyst serving both the information technology and physical plant management departments. He worked tirelessly following the Northridge earthquake of 1994 on the restoration and upgrade of campus technology. His contributions to the University also included the voluntary maintenance of the school's carillon system which not only produces beautiful melodies to serenade the CSUN campus every day and keeps time for students and faculty rushing to classes, exams, important events - even graduation ceremonies, but also serves as part of the emergency notification system. After over 50 years of service, Jeff finally retired from CSUN in July 2020.

Jeff enjoyed working on projects around his home, traveling, time with his family, being a grandfather, Christmas, traditions, cooking & grilling, researching history, genealogy, collecting, antiques, restoring art, working with his hands, and particularly, doting on his family. Jeff was possibly happiest sitting at the head of the dinner table, surrounded by his family, laughing so hard that he cried.

Jeff's driving motivation was simple: helping others. Whether driving hours to help a son whose car had broken down, offering his home to help raise his grandchildren, helping to remodel or repair his sons' homes, or doting on his wife with flowers, Jeff got the most out of giving to others. To know Jeff was to have benefitted from his generosity, his energy, his knowledge, and most importantly his time.

Jeff is survived by his wife of 28 years, Janice; sister Sandy; adult sons Scott Craig, Daniel Craig (Melissa), Daniel Wideman, Casey Craig (Jennifer), and Joseph Wideman (Shelley); and grandchildren Abbey, Grim, Dylan, Ethan, Sienna, Lucas & Colton.