Robert Lee Crites

Bob was born in Kansas to an Army Air Corp pilot (later to be an Air Force pilot) and his supportive military wife. His father’s duty stations took him to Okinawa, Arkansas, Newfoundland, Hawaii and multiple times to California. He learned how to make friends quickly at each new place he moved to. He graduated from Punahou High School, perhaps best known by one of its celebrated alumni, Barak Obama. He spent a year at the University of Hawaii and then transferred to UC Riverside when his father got orders to the Pentagon. To say Bob enjoyed college life is an understatement. After 5 years, his advisor called him in and said “Congratulations, you’ve graduated”. Bob said “Great! What did I major in?” Turns out they created a major for him, Physical Sciences, just to get him out of school.

Bob arrived in the DC area at the invitation of the Federal government to become an entry level computer programmer trainee. He needed a job and it sounded interesting so he said yes. And that, as they say, was that. He spent the next 36 years of his life working in the Information Technology field at various different businesses and loving every minute of it. One of his assignments even got him me. He liked to tell the story of how I pursued him and I was more than happy to say that his story was true. I knew a good thing when I saw it.

For this next part, I want to borrow from a message I received from a longtime friend. She captured Bob’s essence beautifully.

The first thing that people noticed about Bob was that he was tall. But if you spent any time with him, you realized he was so much more. His height wasn’t what defined Bob unless you think of height in terms of his important qualities.

He stood tall in friendliness and warmth for all those he met.

He stood tall in kindness and gentleness. He was a gentle man and a gentleman.

He stood tall in concern for his family and for Linda’s family.

He stood tall in enthusiasm for lunch time volleyball at work and after work volleyball on the Mall.

He stood tall in his avid interest, support and love for GMU volleyball and basketball.

He stood tall in his obvious love for all those young people that he encouraged by his presence at games.

He stood tall in the acceptance of his “married into” family and all their events in Rhode Island.

He stood tall in his support for his wife and their weekly visits to his mother-in-law.

He stood tall in integrity and in patriotism.

He stood tall in loyalty to his longtime friends and making friends his family.

He stood tall in optimism and in determination.

He fought to recover from every medical challenge that was dished out to him. And he did it with a big grin on his face.

Most of all, he stood tall in his love, devotion, affection and pride in Linda. Bob and Linda were, and will always be the perfect Mickey and Minnie.

Bob and I were married for 33 years and I was so incredibly lucky to love him and be loved by him. Yes, I wanted more years with him, but I’m so happy for the ones I had and the memories I will always have.

If people wish, a contribution can be made in Bob’s memory to The Crites Family Men’s Volleyball Scholarship Endowment at George Mason University. Checks should be made out to the GMU Foundation with a notation in memo line of “Crites Volleyball Endowment”. If you wish to make a donation online, the link is fasterfarther.gmu.edu. You can designate where to direct your donation in the comments section of the giving form.

Checks should be mailed to:

Patriot Club

4400 University Drive

MS 5E1

Fairfax, VA 22030