On April 19, 2023, a strong, accomplished man died at the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor. His name is Lawrence Richard Crane. He was a husband, a father, a brother, a brother-in law, an uncle, a grandfather, a friend, a leader and foremost, a physician. His family leadership led to three additional family members becoming successful physicians, his first cousin Norman Young, his younger brother Steven Crane and his niece Erika Crane.

He was born in Detroit, Michigan on June 11, 1942. His mother was Marjorie Martha Young and his father was Lawrence Henry Crane. His mother was a homemaker and lived with him alone as a little boy while his dad served in WWII in Manila as a radio operator. His brother Steven Crane was not yet born. His father was a printer. His mother became a school secretary. They were solid people.

In school, he liked science and graduated at the age of 16 in 1959 from Redford Union High School. He was accepted into an accelerated program in Monteith College at Wayne State University which required three years and then started medical school at Wayne and he graduated from the School of Medicine in 1966. He did his Internal Medicine residency at the Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Md. He was a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy during the Vietnam War Era. He completed his Fellowship in Infectious Diseases in 1974 at Wayne State University. He was a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and the Infectious Diseases Society of America. He served as the Medical Director of the AIDS Partnership of Michigan for several years.

In the early 1980s, Dr. Crane chose to provide care for people living with the newly identified Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV.) He spent his career providing care for people who had HIV infection. He provided leadership in research, program design and the clinical care for inpatient and outpatient programs. These programs are still in place and functioning effectively today. He has received many awards and certificates for his care models and work on this virus.

Dr. Crane had two favorite places to relax:  Canyon Lodge in Agawa Canyon in Northern Ontario and the Dearborn Country Club. He fished for trout in the pristine waters of the many lakes near Canyon Lodge by day and played cards by night. The Dearborn Country Club was enjoyable for the golf course and clubhouse. He loved the camaraderie and friendships from both these places.

He leaves behind his wife, Mary Jo Crane, two daughters, Jennifer Crane and Hillary Crane, step-daughter, Mary Oleszek and her husband David Levine, two grandchildren, Gianluca (Jack) Petrazzi and Zoe Basta, two step-grandchildren, Margaret Levine and Alexander Levine, his brother, Steven Crane and his wife Karen Crane, a niece, Erika Crane and her husband Dan Redwine, a nephew Steven Crane and his wife Stephanie Crane, and his former wife Jill Crane who remains a part of this family.

A memorial service for family and friends will be held later.

He has left the world his legacy: Take Care of Each Other, No Exceptions.