Dear Envirosoc Community Members,
We sadly note the passing of Craig R. Humphrey, professor, sailor, and family man, who died peacefully at home July 31 with his wife by his side. He was 82 and had been diagnosed with cancer earlier this year.
Craig, the son of Ruth (Reed) and Roger Humphrey, grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, graduated from Bowling Green State University and received his Masters and Doctorate degrees in sociology from Brown University. He taught sociology courses about urban growth, world population and environmental sociology at the College of William and Mary and Penn State University and spent several semesters as a visiting professor at the University of Wisconsin and the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. Craig authored numerous books and papers, most notably Environment, Energy and Society, published in 1982. Continually active in professional associations, Craig chaired the Environmental Sociology Section of the American Sociological Association which recognized him for his scholarship, teaching, and service with the Distinguished Service Award in 2003.
Craig and his wife of 59 years, Cathy (Clark), met when both were students at Brown. They have two grown daughters and three grandchildren. Michelle (Humphrey) Nixon and her husband Andrew have two children, Nathaniel and Adele. Gwen (Humphrey) Neifert and her husband Jason have a son, Hunter. Interacting with his grandchildren gave Craig great pleasure as did family gatherings.
For many years, Craig enjoyed owning, maintaining and sailing wooden sailboats. As his wife, Cathy, fondly remembers, their first date was a trip to Narragansett Bay and a sail on Craig’s first boat, a wooden Lightning. Over the years, Craig took great pride in painting the hulls and varnishing the bright work of his various boats. Sailing trips became a family tradition, enjoyed by all.
After retiring from Penn State, Craig was active in local government. He ran for and won a position on the State College, Pennsylvania, Borough Council. When he and Cathy moved to East Hampton, Craig was appointed to the East Hampton Village Planning Board and the East Hampton Village Zoning Board of Appeals. At this time, Craig also became interested in exploring his family’s genealogy after attending a presentation at the East Hampton Library in 2010, “Finding Your Family History.” Much to his surprise, Craig was able to trace his roots back to a captain who fought in the American Revolution which led to his membership in the Sons of the American Revolution. Consequently, Craig became active in the Long Island Chapter of the SAR and served as its historian for a number of years.
Craig loved living in East Hampton in the 100 year old house inherited from Cathy’s parents—known as “The Clark House.” He took pride in having painted every room in the house and enjoyed keeping the yard in pristine shape, planting flowering shrubs and spring bulbs wherever there was space and sunshine.
Craig was cremated and his ashes interred at Cedar Lawn Cemetery in East Hampton during a family ceremony.
Memorials in Craig’s name may be made to East End Hospice, PO Box 1048, Westhampton Beach, NY 11978.