Kenneth Bryden Craib Sr.

Ken, born October 13, 1938, grew up in Norway, Maine before joining the US Air Force in 1957 as an Electronic Warfare Specialist. He later met and married his wife of 61 years, Gloria F. Lisano, while stationed near Houston, Texas and subsequently earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Physics from the University of Houston. Ken then began working with NASA in the flight research branch during the early days of the Manned Space Program.

Ken later transitioned to the aerospace industry in California to work in the emerging field of satellites used for commercial purposes. Eventually starting his own company, RDA International, Ken led US Agency for International Development programs in Africa, South America, Asia and several South Pacific nations. He earned his Master’s Degree in Economics from San Jose State University, CA and an Executive MBA from Harvard along the way. In addition to his professional life, Ken was also an avid pilot and raised competition Arabian horses. Ken’s love of teaching eventually led him to become a University Professor of Economics and International Business. A gifted story teller, his tales spanned the range of working closely with America’s first astronauts, meetings with world leaders, and encounters with headhunters in the Amazon.

Ken is survived by his wife Gloria; his children Ken Craib, Jr. (Carole), Judi Hoisington (Ken), Lori Coleal, Melissa Dombrowski (Patrick) and 13 grandchildren; and his two brothers Richard (Carmen) and Douglas (Sue) Craib and his sister Judy (Ralph) Sarty.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation at www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org