Dr. Bernard Crosby passed away this past Saturday, January 24, 2015, completing a journey of joy and sorrow, love and learning, acceptance and surrender, hope and faith, in courageously living with prostate cancer for the past several years. He was supported by the love of his life, his wife Betsy, his two precious children, Matthew and Erin and their spouses Anne and Jonathan, and his sister, Zouri. The kindness and support of others include Dr. James Uyeki and staff, Dr. Nazir Tannir, Dr. Ed Peters, Rich Armington, Richard Grant, PhD, Father Denis and Sister Mary, Hospice Austin, and the St. David's Episcopal Church community.
Bernie was born in San Diego, California to Bernard and Nadine Crosby. In his childhood he developed a love and curiosity for nature and the science behind it, which would endure throughout his life. After graduating as valedictorian of Mission Bay High School, he received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. He formed lifelong friendships with many of his classmates, and graduated with a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Army Corps of Engineers. Following tours in Germany and Ft. Hood, he attended the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas.
There he met and fell in love with Betsy; they were married and later blessed with the birth of their son, Matthew. His daughter Erin was born while serving as a Pediatrician at an Army Hospital in Ft. Eustis, Virginia. He then completed a fellowship in Allergy and Immunology at Fitzsimmons Medical Center in Denver, and later served as chief of the Allergy Clinic at Eisenhower Army Medical Center in Augusta, Georgia. Bernie separated from the service as Lieutenant Colonel, and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal.
Bernie then served as an Allergist in the Austin community until his retirement in 2009. He worked with the Austin Diagnostic Clinic and Allergy and Asthma Associates in partnership with Dr. Jay Van Bavel and later with Dr. Ed Peters and doctors and staff at Allergy and Asthma Consultants. He will be remembered as a doctor who could make sick children laugh, and who treated all of his patients with compassion and care.
Bernie was an incredibly loving and supportive husband and father. He hiked strenuous mountain treks with Matthew at Philmont Scout ranch, stayed up late to help Erin with her math homework, and shelved books with Betsy on Sundays in the Zavala Elementary School Library.
A memorial service will be held at St. David's Episcopal Church this Saturday, January 31 at 11:00am. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations may be made in his honor to the Volunteer Healthcare Clinic of Austin.
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