Marcus Esketh Crahan Jr. Obituary, Los Angeles Times, Mar 5, 2008

Marcus Crahan died on February 29, 2008 following a brief illness at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. Son and grandson of prominent Los Angeles families and fourth generation Angelino, Mr. Crahan was born on July 31, 1929. He lived primarily in Los Angeles until he relocated to Santa Barbara in 1996.

Mr. Crahan graduated from Villanova Preparatory School (Yearbook entry on this page), in the Ojai Valley in 1947. Mr. Crahan served honorably in the US Army Chemical Corps 1951-1953. He received a B.A. from Claremont McKenna Men's College in 1951, an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago in 1954 where he was the Marshall Field Scholar, an L.L.B. from UCLA School of Law in 1956, and a Master of Philosophy from Wolfson College at the University of Cambridge, England in 1992. He was admitted to the State Bar of California in 1957, thereafter attaining distinguished membership in many professional associations including the American Bar, the Los Angeles County Bar, and the Los Angeles Business Trial Lawyers. His law practice included civil trial and appellate litigation and appeared before the California Supreme Court, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, the U.S Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court. Mr. Crahan began his career in 1957 as the Deputy, Assistant, and Division Chief Assistant City Attorney for the City of Los Angeles and served until 1964. He was a Partner in the law firm of Taylor and Barker from 1964-1968 and the Managing Partner of Crahan, Scott, Javelera & Ver Halen in Los Angeles from 1968 until he retired.

Mr. Crahan was a life-long member of the First Century Families of Los Angeles and long-time member of the Jonathan Club. The contributions of the Crahan and Dockweiler families to the City of Los Angeles, State of California, and United States have been archived at the Loyola Marymount University Library. Mr. Crahan continued the family tradition of community service and philanthropy until his death. Mr. Crahan was instrumental in establishing the family charitable foundation, the Julia Stearns Dockweiler Foundation, which provides funding for many worthy non-profit organizations in Southern California as well as educational institutions throughout the U.S. Mr. Crahan served as the Managing Trustee until his death.

Mr. Crahan served as a Member of the President's Council of Claremont McKenna College, Member of the Board of Trustees of Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles, Member and Chairman of the 56th Assembly and 30th Congressional District Central Committees of Los Angeles County, Member of the Board of Directors of the Windsor Square Association in Los Angeles, and Member of the Los Angeles Mayor's Advisory Committees. In Santa Barbara, he was a Member of the Santa Barbara City Building Appeals Board and Member and Committee Chairman of the Santa Barbara County Civil Grand Jury, 2000-2001. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Eucalyptus Hill Improvement Association and of VISTAS for Lifelong Learning, and served on the Board of Directors for the Cosmopolitan Club in Santa Barbara until his death.

A gentleman of high integrity, Mr. Crahan was committed to the belief that only a virtuous rather than a rights-based society could make the world a better place for our children. He spent his life fighting on behalf of truth both in the courtroom and for his community. Mr. Crahan was a loving husband and a caring father who raised four sons who willingly continue his example of service and respect for all. He was always trying to make the neighborhood a better place for the sports activities of his children as well as all children who lived in Windsor Square and Hancock Park.

Surviving members of the Crahan family include his wife, Caryl; his son, Marcus III and his wife, Cyndi, Corona del Mar, CA, two granddaughters, Catherine, Arlington, VA and Christine, Corona del Mar, CA; his son, John, Los Angeles; his son, Thomas and his wife, Laura, two granddaughters, Caitlin and Claire and grandson, Thomas, Jr., Long Beach, CA; his son, Barnaby, and his wife, Sarah, two grandsons, Jacob and Dylan, Chevy Chase, MD; his brother, Sean Dockweiler Crahan, Glendale, CA; his sister-in-law, Michele McGarry Crahan, Los Angeles; his cousin, C. Quinn Brady, La Quinta, CA; a nephew, two nieces and numerous cousins in CA. He was preceded in death by his father, Marcus E. Crahan, Sr., M.D., his mother, Rosario Dockweiler Crahan, and his brother, The Honorable Judge Brian Dockweiler Crahan.

Mr. Crahan will be laid to rest in the Santa Barbara Cemetery at a private service. The funeral mass will be at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, 1300 East Valley Road, Montecito, CA on Saturday, March 8th at 12:00 Noon, followed by a reception with the family. In lieu of flowers the family prefers that memorials be made to the Julia Stearns Dockweiler Foundation, 830 Woodland Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93108. Arrangements entrusted to Welch-Ryce-Haider 805.965.5145.