The Rev. Dr. Robert Crafts, Jr., 1935-2020

The Rev. Dr. Robert Crafts, Jr., Captain, MC-USN retired, a mission-focused priest who served congregations in the Diocese of San Diego, died November 7, aged 85.

He was born in Cleveland, and earned a degree from Yale before being trained as a medical doctor at Case Western Reserve University. After retiring from the Navy, he prepared for the ministry at Nashotah House, and was ordained in 1989.

Crafts first served as priest in charge of St. John’s, Indio, California, conducting services in both English and Spanish to serve the needs of the diverse community. He moved to San Diego in 1998, and served for many years as port chaplain to the Mission for Seafarers, where, as his family remembered, he “combined his commitment to Christ, a desire to connect with and serve others, a deep love of languages, the joy derived from sharing a good book, and his long naval experience.” He was also vicar of St. Elizabeth’s in San Diego for six years and assisted in several other congregations.

Crafts was preceded in death by two children and a grandchild and is survived by Carol, his wife of 57 years, two brothers, three children, seven grandchildren and a great-grandson.

Nashotah House periodically updates a list of alumni whose deaths recently have been noted to the seminary. Please send obituaries to Nashotah House at advancement@nashotah.edu.