Albert Burchfield Craig Jr., M.D., 83, died in
Rochester, N.Y., on April 4, 2008, at Strong Memorial Hospital following
a brief illness.
He was born in Sewickley on April 19, 1924, the son of
Albert B. and Elizabeth G. (Gibson) Craig.
He attended The Lawrenceville School, Princeton
University and Cornell Medical School, graduating in 1948.
He served as a lieutenant and research physician in the
U.S. Army Medical Corps from 1951 to 1953.
His long career as a professor of physiology and
pharmacology at the University of Rochester Medical School took him to
Japan, Nigeria, Hawaii and Norway on a Fulbright Fellowship.
His career reflected a lifelong personal and
professional passion for the sport of swimming. He was author or
co-author of more than 100 papers covering a range of physiology-related
topics.
He continued his research into the biomechanics of
swimming as professor emeritus of physiology until his death.
In addition to editorial board memberships on numerous
academic publications, he was president of the American College of
Sports Medicine from 1972 to 1973 and The Staunton Farm Foundation of
Pittsburgh from 1985 to 1991.
He wrote "One Woman's Dream, a Brief History of Staunton
Farm Foundation" and "Burchfield-Craig: Two Pittsburgh Families."
He was a longtime supporter of the Finger Lakes Land
Trust in Canadice, N.Y. He also served as a member of the planning board
and comprehensive planning committee of the town.
He is survived by his wife of more than 60 years, Sybil
S. (Smart) Craig; his children, Lee C. Lundback (Staffan), Albert B.
Craig III (Louise), John G. Craig and Gregory L. Craig; and his
grandchildren, Hadley L. Matarazzo (Todd), Erik B. Lundback and Albert
B. Craig IV.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Contributions may be made to the Finger Lakes Land Trust, 202 E. Court
St., Ithaca, NY 14850. Arrangements were made by Anthony Funeral &
Cremation Chapels.
