Greenwich lost a fine and gentle man with the death on April 28, 2023 of Peter Jay Crumbine.
Born in Astoria, Peter’s early life was based primarily in Shaker Heights, Ohio, where he famously explained that he was always “the new kid in school and spent second grade in three different schools.”
He later attended Dartmouth College, graduating in the Class of 1960 with a BA, Phi Beta Kappa, and Magna Cum Laude with a high distinction in his major. He wore the Dartmouth varsity letter with pride. Peter then moved to Stanford University as he searched, so he always said, for a blonde California beach girl.
He almost succeeded; Bea was a Californian but not blonde — and only 19 years old when they met! He earned a Masters Degree in Business Administration and another Masters in Electrical Engineering. He then worked for Lockheed Missiles and Space Company in Sunnyvale, CA.
After their marriage in 1964 and Bea’s graduation from New York University in 1966, they followed their dreams of living overseas during which time Peter held executive positions with Mobil Oil Corporation in Genoa, Rome, and Manila. This was followed by a stint as Managing Director with Mobil Marine Sales in London and, later, the position of General Manager/CEO of Mobil Oil Portuguesa in Lisbon.
Finally, after fourteen years abroad, Bea and Peter returned to Greenwich, where Peter managed Corporate Planning at the Amerada Hess Corporation, was President of International Marine Sales, a Managing Partner with Navios Corporation, a Vice President in Commodity Derivatives for Citicorp, and Vice President at Sempra Energy Trading.
In 1996, Peter was elected to a position on Greenwich’s Board of Estimate and Taxation. In 1999, further politics beckoned, which led to five elections as Selectman for the Town of Greenwich and service under the administrations of Lolly Prince, Dick Bergstresser, Jim Lash, and Peter Tesei.
He also earned great success in United States Masters Swimming, where he both swam competitively on a local and national level and chaired the Masters Swimming Long Distance Committee. He also founded the Greenwich Swim Committee. Peter’s devotion to the weekly Horseneck Club gatherings was little short of legendary.
Peter and Bea have been married for almost 59 years, and Peter leaves children Dennis Crumbine, Wendy Ferdinand (Jed), and David Crumbine (Aisha) plus five remarkable grandchildren: Olivia and Tyler Ferdinand, Phoebe Crumbine, and Jay and Ziza Crumbine. He also leaves siblings Dennis Crumbine (Maureen), Nancy Crumbine (Laurie), and Katie Galli (Albert).
A celebration of life will be held at a later date.