Fred Crabill

As Fred would tell those when asked “what state were you born? He would smile and say “I wasn’t”. Roger Frederick “Fred” Crabill was born in Washington, D. C. on February 6, 1951. He had an idyllic childhood(think Leave it to Beaver) raised in the (back then) small sleepy town of Falls Church, VA. The only child of Emma Marice “Reecie” Haverkamp and Roger DeWitt Crabill. He began throwing a baseball and fishing with his dad before he started elementary school. He graduated from George Mason High School where he was a two sport athlete, football and baseball. But baseball was always number one. As a left handed pitcher he accepted an offer to play at Florida State University. He also was a member of Delta Chi fraternity. After graduating with a degree in Biology he started his career with the Department of Environmental Resources, later the Department of Environmental Protection. After government service he joined private sector environmental companies. In 1994, he started Southeast Environmental Solutions, Inc. as a support agency to the mining and private development industries. Through his love of the outdoors, whether work, hunting or fishing, Fred has gathered a lifetime of friends. Starting with squirrels in the Virginia woods (of which the tails could be mailed in and get back 5 cents each) he loved hunting. Eventually choosing game birds and water fowl as his targets. But fishing was his real love. Living in Polk County in the 70’s every marl pit and lake must have had a line in it. Bass fishing on the pro circuit occupied him for awhile, but then he turned to saltwater. Landing a 10 lb. bonefish in the Bahamas was just one highlight. Achieving the inshore Grand Slam of Permit, Tarpon and Bonefish, all caught in one day, was another. And then he found CCA, or maybe Coastal Conservation found him. He has spent over twenty years starting in Polk County (Chapter President), to Management Committee Chairman in 2012 and Florida Chairman in 2014 and again in 2021. He is one of only 28 Legacy members in the state of Florida. He was the heart and soul of CCA. His pride in Coastal Conservation Association was boundless. He is survived by his love and life partner, Lisa Galloway, his daughter Krista Kontny (Scott), step-children Susan Hess (Rick) and Christopher Bradshaw (Cayce); grandchildren: Cade Kontny, Peyton Kontny, Cameron Turner, Claire Bradshaw, Jude Bradshaw. Visitation will be Monday, April 24th from 10-11 am at Gentry Morrison Southside Chapel, followed by a memorial service at 11 am at the funeral home. The family requests in lieu of flowers contributions be made to Coastal Conservation Association in memory of Fred Crabill. https://ccaflorida.org/product/memorial-donations/

Fred Crabill

February 6, 1951 - April 17, 2023