Charles A. Crew

Charles Anthony Crew, Sr., dedicated and loving husband, father, stepfather, grandfather, uncle, and friend, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 16, 2025, surrounded by his wife, Patricia, and family, just a week shy of his 82nd birthday.

Born March 23, 1943, in Baltimore, Maryland, Charles attended St. Thomas Aquinas School and church, where he was an altar boy, and later graduated from Mount Saint Joseph High School, both in Baltimore. He pursued higher education at The University of Baltimore and received an MBA at Loyola University, laying the foundation for his professional achievements.

Charles dedicated himself to his career in finance and executive leadership, where he held several prominent positions, including Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at several well-known companies. His career was defined by his efforts to help businesses grow, transform, and thrive.

Though his professional life kept him busy, Charles also had a strong commitment to his family, community and faith. Charles was a lifelong Catholic who had a special reverence for the Blessed Mother. Together with his wife, Patricia, he regularly prayed the Rosary. He volunteered as a CCD teacher and was a proud 3rd-degree member of the Knights of Columbus at Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Sykesville, and later at St. Raphael Catholic Church in Rockville. He was also a regular participant in the Men’s Fellowship group at St. Raphael’s.

Charles was a voracious reader with a sharp intellect and had a particular love for history. He enjoyed reading multiple books at a time and could tell you what was happening in all of them…as well as whatever was on TV at the time. He was an animal lover, having both dogs and, especially, cats as pets throughout his life. He was also an avid runner, and enjoyed the beach, where he, Patricia, and many other family members made memories at their second homes in Lewes, Delaware.

Family heritage was important to Charles, and he spent many hours tracing his ancestry. He was descended from Irish, English, German, and Scottish ancestors, some arriving in St. Mary’s, Maryland, and James City and Charles City, Virginia, as early as the 1620s. He was proud to discover that his ancestor, Jesse W. Nussear, fought at the Battle of North Point during the War of 1812 and witnessed the bombardment of Fort McHenry.

Charles is survived by his wife, Patricia Ann; his children, Alisa Marie Sever (Dennis Sever), Carol Ann McLean (Scott McLean), and Charles Anthony Crew, Jr.; his stepson Hunter Fleetwood (Mariapaz Fernandez); his grandsons, Sean Charles McLean and Ryan Anthony McLean; brother-in-law Ronald W. Merson; nieces Michelle Lynn Davies (Brian Davies) and Dannette Noel Keeler (Scott Keeler); and many extended family members and friends who will remember him fondly. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Albert Crew and Nellie Elizabeth Zurgable Crew, sister Gwendolyn Marie Merson, and his stepdaughter, Christina Blades Fleetwood.

Mass of Christian Burial presided by Father Mike Salah will be held on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at 10am at St. Raphael Catholic Church in Rockville, Maryland, with a reception in the parish library immediately following at 11am. Private interment will be held at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Silver Spring, MD at 1pm.

In lieu of flowers, gifts will be accepted in memory of Charles A. Crew at Mount Saint Joseph High School, 4403 Frederick Ave., Baltimore, MD 21229 or www.msjnet.edu/giving.