Lewis Crosby

Lewis Paul Crosby passed away Saturday, January 18th, 2025, in Bangor after battling health issues for some time. Born on October 26, 1948, in Bangor, Maine, Lew was the second child of Howard and Ruth (McSweeney) Crosby of Hermon. Lew was stationed in Germany while serving two years in the U.S. Army. After returning home, he graduated from the University of Maine with a degree in Agricultural Engineering. He settled in Old Town, working his entire career as a hydraulic engineer for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. He and his colleagues traveled the state doing flood studies, working to restore rivers for fish passage, and stabilizing dunes to prevent erosion.

Encouraged by their doting parents, Lew and his siblings had a lively childhood, raising farm animals for 4-H competitions and pulling off feats like converting the family Buick into a snowplow. Lew, his brother Herb, and their friends constructed a complex of non-permitted treehouses, one with a makeshift elevator for the family dog, a tree fort and a skillfully engineered log cabin deeper in the woods.

Lew assisted Herb to build his home from the ground up and he lovingly restored and maintained his 1900 farmhouse complete with a large barn for his classic cars. His tiny antique steam-powered Christmas display was unparalleled, and he took great pride in finding obscure old artists to entertain guests with on his various Victrolas and record players. He loved vintage machines and attended nearly every event at Owls Head Transportation Museum. He collected and restored many classic cars over the years, with his 1932 Pontiac being one of his greatjoys. Lew was great at fixing things, and for many years he worked with the "Tuesday Crew" at the Maine Forest and Logging Museum restoring a 1907 Lombard steam log hauler and his favorite machine, a vintage Cletrac. Lew was particularly fond of Acadia, cross-country skiing on the scenic carriage trails and biking thousands of miles on his favorite 60-mile loop around the island. Many times, he biked up Cadillac Mountain while participating in the Tour de Cure. He also enjoyed kayaking, including some epic adventures around Penobscot Bay. He knew all of Maine's best ice cream shops and would sometimes hit two per day. Countless wonderful weekends will be remembered spending time with him at the family camp, kayaking, barbecuing, and watching loons. His siblings were his greatest cheerleaders as he dazzled us all with his water skiing and water discing skills.

Above all, Lew was always there for all of his family. His smile and quick wit will be dearly missed and lovingly remembered by his siblings, Herbert and his wife, Judy, of Orono, Janet and her husband, Michael Carey, of Scarborough, Thomas and his wife, Judy, of Falmouth, and Carol Crosby and her husband, Doug Varney, of Greenbelt, Md. Nieces and nephews who will remember him fondly are Heidi Crosby and her husband, Richard Becker, of Ipswich, Mass., Amy Crosby and her husband, Nicholas Carter, of Durham, Bjorn Carey and his wife Corey Binns, of Menlo Park, California, Ingrid and her husband Eric Semle of Gorham, Karen and her husband William Tripp of Wayland, Mass., and David Crosby and his wife, Tannis, of Calgary, Alberta. His siblings, nieces and nephews will ensure his great nieces and nephews (Henry, Brendan, Remy, Hazlet, Wyatt, Hazel, Scout and Ian) will know this quiet, kind, clever, cheerful and witty uncle who adored and was adored by his loving family.

After a life well-lived, Lew is now happily cruising that great vintage car show in the sky, listening to his beloved 50s and 60s music.

The family welcomes friends for a gathering with reminiscing and refreshments on Saturday, May 3, 2025 from 2-4 p.m., at the Family Reception Center of Brookings-Smith, 163 Center St., Bangor.

Those who wish to remember Lew in a special way may make gifts in his memory to the Owls Head Transportation Museum, PO Box 277, Owls Head, Maine 04854, or the University of Maine Foundation, Two Alumni Place, Orono, ME 04469-5792.