Harry Clement Crawford 3rd, known as Tad, died peacefully on Oct. 6 at his home in West Tisbury with his beloved wife Judy at his side. He was 83.

He was born Jan. 8, 1940 in Boston. He was nicknamed Tad at birth by his grandfather, who thought his fat little belly and short legs made him look like a tadpole; the name stuck.

Tad always greeted people with a warm smile, and he had a way of actively listening that brought out the best in everyone. Warmth and caring came easily to him. His 46-year marriage to Judy was filled with outdoor adventures: hiking, camping, technical mountain climbing with ropes, carabiners, crampons and ice axes, and Level 5 white water rafting. In later years they kayaked and sailed in Vineyard waters and hiked the back hills and ancient trails of the Vineyard until Parkinson’s disease took its toll on his physical strength and stamina.

He grew up in Weston, where he earned his Eagle Scout Award. He was the first exchange student to Rombas, France in Weston High School’s junior year abroad program.

He graduated with honors from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. After graduation, and fluent in French, he joined the summer abroad program with Mobil Oil Corporation in Paris. Returning to the U.S., he began his long career with Mobil, based first in Manhattan, but soon was sent back to France. 

Tad received correspondence from his draft board and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves. He flew home from France for monthly training exercises. It was later learned that there was toxic water at Camp Lejeune during his basic training and service in the 1960s, and this was the suspected cause of his 20-year battle with Parkinson’s disease in later life. Nevertheless, he was proud to be a Marine and was quick to say Semper Fi when encountering a fellow Marine.

Mobil sent him to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he became the youngest general manager in the company’s history, evolving from supervising a shared secretary to being responsible for more than 200 employees in a foreign country and in a foreign language. That was Tad. No challenge was too daunting.

Returning to Manhattan, he managed Mobil’s economic analysis unit and, for the next 20 years, lived in Westport, Conn. When Mobil moved its headquarters to Alexandria, Va., Tad moved to Bethesda, Md., where he was an executive in the human resources division of Mobil Chemical.

Tad retired to the Vineyard in 1995, quickly sinking roots into the community. He helped found the Dukes County Health Council and chaired the organization for several years. His passion for conservation led him to the board of Vineyard Conservation Society. He also served on the West Tisbury personnel board. 

He was a lifelong Unitarian and an active member of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Martha’s Vineyard for almost 30 years. On the denominational level, he served on the UUA president’s council under two presidents. He also served on the Star Island Corporation board.

Tad was a sailor and loved both racing and recreational sailing. His beloved Moon Shadow, which won several races on the Vineyard, is still being sailed and raced in Vineyard waters by its current owner.

How he lived with Parkinson’s was an inspiration to others. He trained for months so he could march in Princeton’s “P-rade” at his 60th class reunion. The only person using a walker, he was cheered loudly by hundreds of bystanders. He was widely known for his determination and courage. A week before his final medevac flight to Boston, he walked two and a half miles, using his upright walker.

In the end, his fervent wish was to leave the hospital in Boston and return to the Island he loved so much and to the home where he had spent so many happy years. His wish was fulfilled. He lived his life as he ended it, with courage, grace and love.

Tad is survived by a large extended family: his wife Judy Crawford of West Tisbury; five children and their spouses: Debi Keller Wood and her husband Pete of Carver; Rebecca Keller Scholl and her husband Craig of Needham; Daniel John Keller and his wife Lara of Clarksdale, Ariz.; Tara Crawford Sideleau and her husband Dave of Bethel, Conn., and David Harrison Crawford and his wife Amy of Edgartown.

He is also survived by three brothers, Frederik Oellgaard Crawford, John Aiken Crawford and Peter Clay Crawford, as well as 15 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Tad was predeceased by his father, Harry Clement Crawford Jr. and his mother, Mary Oellgaard Crawford of Weston.

His family will host a celebration of his life in the spring, date and location to be determined.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Unitarian Universalist Society at uusmv.org, Vineyard Conservation Society at bit.ly/VCS/donation, or Star Island Corporation at starisland.thankyou4caring.org/donate.