Gary Richard Craner

Gary Craner of Glenwood Landing NY passed away on April 28, 2020 at age 77 after a courageous fight with his long illness. He was born in Fulton NY, the son of the late Francis & Fern Craner and the eldest of 6 children. Gary often talked of starting his first few years of schooling in a one-room schoolhouse and went on to graduate from SUNY Oswego where he met his beloved wife Genie in his first week of college. He earned a BS and MA in Biology and a Professional Diploma in Educational Administration. A dedicated teacher at North Shore High School for 38 years, often teaching the children of former students, he was also actively involved in athletics as a coach for baseball, bowling and cross country. He became Athletic Director for After School Sports, a position he continued to hold for 6 years after retirement from the classroom in 2003. His love of athletics and weight training was life-long, and he clinched the NY State bench press record in the senior age category. Gary is well known throughout the local community for his service and dedication to many organizations. Most prominently he was dedicated to the North Shore Kiwanis. He was a Distinguished Past President, Secretary, Chairman of the N.S. Scholarship Committee, and served on other committees including the Sea Cliff Mini Mart, Pancake Breakfast, and Nassau to Suffolk Bicycle Challenge. Most proudly he served on the board of KPTC (Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Center) raising funds for children's healthcare. His other love was for his church, the Sea Cliff United Methodist Church where he served as a faithful parishioner and trustee treasurer. Gary was an avid reader of modern fiction and loved traveling the world in >He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Genie, and his two children, son Garren (Carolyn) of Stamford, CT and daughter Gennifer (James) of Agoura Hills, CA. He cherished his grandchildren Alyssa & Kayla Craner and Justin & Gemma Milne and was the dear brother of Joan, Doug, Elizabeth, Muriel and the late Marilyn, and brother-in-law of Linda. A memorial service will be planned in the future at the Sea Cliff United Methodist Church. Details of the memorial service will be announced at a later date.