To Albert Crosley Jr., the entire world was a stage. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, he was a performer in the theater of life. To everyone around him, he seemed to be eternally happy, and he willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life he touched. For AC, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, he could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. AC really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.
AC was born on December 2, 1930 in an apartment building in Detroit, Michigan to his parents Albert Crosley and Anna Ferns. AC was raised in Detroit by his mother after her relationship to his father ended when he was 5 years old. Even as a child, AC had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around him. He was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. He couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention. He was definitely a little bit of a show off, but in doing so, he succeeded in entertaining his entire family.
Always a good playmate, AC was easygoing and fun loving. He managed to lighten the mood wherever he was, even during family squabbles. He seemed to have a knack for bringing compromise and erasing tense situations around the house. Due to a generous dose of common sense, AC managed to find a satisfying solution to basic problems. AC was raised with three brothers; John, Edward, and Frank.
All of AC’s playful good humor carried over into his childhood. He was possessed with an outgoing personality, a lively imagination and a mellowed enthusiasm for life that allowed him to be constantly on the go. As a result, AC experienced a rather active childhood, and this suited him very well. In his spare time he liked setting up bowling pins in the neighborhood bowling alley for $2.00 a night, and hanging out with his friends.
AC never actually encountered a stranger in his dealings with people. He was drawn to individuals and crowds, using his gregarious, adaptable and outgoing personality to captivate his audience. This quality allowed AC to continually develop new relationships, ever widening his circle of friends. AC delighted in his role among all his acquaintances, because he viewed them all as potential spectators for his performance. Whether it was a story, a joke, a song or just plain fooling around, AC was always right at home putting on a show among his friends. AC utilized his interest in others as a wonderful way to connect with them. While growing up he enjoyed spending time with his neighborhood friends. Later in life, he became friends with Linda and Dave Sherman, Glenn and Nan Bendickson, Paul Didjursis, Lee Deriso, Larry and Susanne Hamilton, Alex and Beppie Lutgendorf, Pat and Kaylynn O'Sullivan, Jim and Mary Techau, Shengli and Chen Yao, Trina Robinson, Garry Buzick, Jim and Jennifer Hatterman, Kimberly Sproul, Armand Burke, Kelly Clark and Sabra McWhirter, Bonnie Wilson, and a host of people from across the United States and many foreign countries. AC loved sharing life and having his home filled with people he knew.
The gift of being emotionally expressive and outwardly affectionate made AC very easy to approach. On December 30, 1995 (Adrienne's birthday) AC exchanged wedding vows with Adrienne Yvette Williams at The Little Chapel of the West in Las Vegas, Nevada. Together they blended their lives and families. He was always sensitive to other people’s feelings, and that was especially true in marriage.
AC was blessed with five daughters: Debbie, Sharon, Laura, Lisa, and Karen; and one son Quentin; with his late wife, Jacqueline, whom passed away in 1986. From his children; he was blessed with 11 grandchildren: Cable, Tonya, Robbie, Ryan, Justin, Jacob, Elisha, Sarah, Rebekka, Serena, and Jordan.
At work, as in life, AC was a real “people person.” He had a very successful way of dealing effectively with others, and his enthusiasm and energy was often contagious. AC liked to see himself as something of a virtuoso. When dealing with various projects and problems, AC was an adaptable realist, using his common sense and trusting his experiences and impulses to uncover the correct answer. AC’s talent for being a down to earth thinker, allowed many around him to see AC as an excellent problem solver. AC retired after many years as an Air Traffic Controller for the Federal Aviation Administration, after retiring from 20 plus years of service with the U. S. Air Force.
AC was an U. S. Air Force veteran. He was in stationed in San Antonio, Texas; Cheyenne, Wyoming; Amarillo, Texas; Los Angeles, California; San Bernardino, California; Salt Lake City, Utah; St. Joseph, Maryland; Tucson, Arizona; 1 year on Johnson Island, and 4 and 1/2 years in Misawa, Japan. AC saw action for one-year guiding aircraft in Vietnam. Through his hard work and dedication, he achieved the rank of Master Sergeant. He received several awards including an Armed Forced Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal with 1 Bronze Star; Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal; Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon; NCO Ribbon; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; and the Air Force Commendation Medal.
AC enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. An “arts and crafts” type, Bob liked creating and making things. His favorite pursuits were collecting stamps, painting and sketching art, listening to music, dancing, watching football, playing black jack, sports betting, cooking; and reading about spy's, history, and foreign countries. AC was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.
AC felt excited and challenged by sports. He enjoyed watching his favorite events and sports betting whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were watching football and recently hockey.
Living life in the fast lane suited AC just fine. It is no surprise that he loved to travel and to visit new and different places. He was naturally curious about other parts of the world and loved the real life adventure that came from visiting them. He was impulsive and willing to try anything once. Favorite vacations included cruises to Mexico, Hawaii; stay-cations in Las Vegas and Mesquite, trips to Cancun(parasailing) and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, San Diego, California; and Paris, France.
AC was a lover of animals and cherished his pets, enjoying them almost as much as he enjoyed being around other people. One of AC’s favorites was Sheen - a mixed breed, four-legged wonder-dog. They became fast and best friends while he was stationed in Japan.
AC believed that you had to experience life, and his life in retirement was no different. His new life involved a short stay in Las Vegas, relocating back to Tucson, Arizona and traveling back and forth to Las Vegas for Black Jack tournaments; until permanently relocating to Las Vegas in 1995. With his boundless energy and a desire to get the most out of life, AC remained busy with people and projects. In retirement, he found new pleasures in competing in black jack tournaments, being a VIP at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino; and painting and sketching art. Even in retirement, AC continued to stay in touch with his old friends and, since he'd never met a stranger, he made plenty of new acquaintances as well.
AC passed away on May 21, 2018, peacefully at his home in North Las Vegas, Nevada. He is survived by his wife, Adrienne; three daughters: Deborah, Laura, and Karen; one son, Quentin; 11 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, and a plethora of nieces and nephews. Services were held at Palm Boulder Highway Mortuary. AC was laid to rest in Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, in Boulder City, Nevada.
AC brought joy to all of those around him. He never had a mean bone in his body. He loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. He loved to share his energy, wit, and his zest for all of his activities with his friends and family. Albert Crosley Jr. lived life to its fullest and made everyone around him happier just for knowing him. He will be remembered with a smile.
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