Obituary for Peter "Gus" A. Crombie Jr.
Peter A. Crombie Jr., known to all as “Gus,” died on Monday, October 14, at Leesburg Regional Medical Center in Leesburg, FL . He was 82.
Gus was born in 1937 in Springfield, MA to his parents Peter A. Crombie and Dorothy Crombie.
He grew up in the Thompsonville section of Enfield. Gus enjoyed childhood adventures and seeking out mischief with his siblings, cousins and friends. He enjoyed being a part of the 4-H, raising black angus and presenting his beautiful prized cows at the Eastern States Expositions. As a teen he worked summers picking Connecticut River Valley Tobacco leaves, which were grown and cured for premium cigars wrappers. He also worked summers at a local garden nursery and would help out with the family business, the Crombie Bus Co.
Gus graduated from Suffield Academy ’54 and Trinity College ’58, where he was a member of the Alpha Chi Rho Fraternity. Professionally, he worked in the Finance Department at Hamilton Standard, a division of United Technologies Corporation.
Gus enjoyed skiing with life-long friends on the slopes of Stowe VT, where he met his wife, Patricia. He raised his 3 children in the town of Manchester, CT, where he resided for 48 years. Gus was a public servant in Manchester by serving on the Board of Education and volunteering in local and state politics. He would spend summers in Charlestown, RI at his family cottage. It was initially built as Officers quarters in the 1940s during WW II; Gus modernized and renovated it over the years. Gus was a skilled handyman and enjoyed attending to his yard and garden. He leisurely enjoyed race cars, motorboats, go-carts, golf-carts and other loud toys with engines. Gus loved marveling his friends and neighbors with his annual fireworks displays. He took comfort in grilling up his preferred meal of steak and potatoes.
During his retired years, Gus enjoyed golf, watching college basketball games and Jeopardy on TV, travel and visiting with his children and grandchildren. He earned the affectionate title of “PaPa Gus” when he became a grandfather. He loved handing out 2 dollar bills to his grandchildren or young children of family and friends as a welcoming sign of good luck. Friends and family will remember Gus for his outspoken and unfiltered sense of humor, his brilliant wit and his thoughtful nature.
Peter is survived by his wife Patricia and three children: James Crombie, Karen Ewanich and her husband Thomas, Brian Crombie and his wife Roselle. He is also survived by 9 grandchildren in whom he took great pride and enjoyed spending time with them. He is additionally survived by two sisters and their spouses: Mary Gellert and her husband Michael, Jane Michel and her husband Jacques. He was pre-deceased by his brother, Gerald Crombie.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12 p.m., November 15, 2019 at St. Patrick Church, followed by burial in St Patrick’s Cemetery in Enfield. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to a charity of your choice in Gus’ honor. To leave online condolences, please visit www.Leetestevens.com
Gus was born in 1937 in Springfield, MA to his parents Peter A. Crombie and Dorothy Crombie.
He grew up in the Thompsonville section of Enfield. Gus enjoyed childhood adventures and seeking out mischief with his siblings, cousins and friends. He enjoyed being a part of the 4-H, raising black angus and presenting his beautiful prized cows at the Eastern States Expositions. As a teen he worked summers picking Connecticut River Valley Tobacco leaves, which were grown and cured for premium cigars wrappers. He also worked summers at a local garden nursery and would help out with the family business, the Crombie Bus Co.
Gus graduated from Suffield Academy ’54 and Trinity College ’58, where he was a member of the Alpha Chi Rho Fraternity. Professionally, he worked in the Finance Department at Hamilton Standard, a division of United Technologies Corporation.
Gus enjoyed skiing with life-long friends on the slopes of Stowe VT, where he met his wife, Patricia. He raised his 3 children in the town of Manchester, CT, where he resided for 48 years. Gus was a public servant in Manchester by serving on the Board of Education and volunteering in local and state politics. He would spend summers in Charlestown, RI at his family cottage. It was initially built as Officers quarters in the 1940s during WW II; Gus modernized and renovated it over the years. Gus was a skilled handyman and enjoyed attending to his yard and garden. He leisurely enjoyed race cars, motorboats, go-carts, golf-carts and other loud toys with engines. Gus loved marveling his friends and neighbors with his annual fireworks displays. He took comfort in grilling up his preferred meal of steak and potatoes.
During his retired years, Gus enjoyed golf, watching college basketball games and Jeopardy on TV, travel and visiting with his children and grandchildren. He earned the affectionate title of “PaPa Gus” when he became a grandfather. He loved handing out 2 dollar bills to his grandchildren or young children of family and friends as a welcoming sign of good luck. Friends and family will remember Gus for his outspoken and unfiltered sense of humor, his brilliant wit and his thoughtful nature.
Peter is survived by his wife Patricia and three children: James Crombie, Karen Ewanich and her husband Thomas, Brian Crombie and his wife Roselle. He is also survived by 9 grandchildren in whom he took great pride and enjoyed spending time with them. He is additionally survived by two sisters and their spouses: Mary Gellert and her husband Michael, Jane Michel and her husband Jacques. He was pre-deceased by his brother, Gerald Crombie.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12 p.m., November 15, 2019 at St. Patrick Church, followed by burial in St Patrick’s Cemetery in Enfield. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to a charity of your choice in Gus’ honor. To leave online condolences, please visit www.Leetestevens.com