John Lynn Crabtree

Jack died on Monday, July 21, 2025 at the Yavapai Regional Medical Center.

He was born August 4, 1948 in Miami, FL to John H. and Marcella J. (Trinkle) Crabtree.

Jack graduated July, 1973 from Arizona State University earning a Bachelor of Science/ET degree.

He proudly served in the US Navy as a radioman in Adak, Alaska, and VietNam. Using amateur radio, he connected many servicemen with their families back in the US, among other duties.

After his time in the Navy, he was employed by radio and cable companies in the Phoenix area. In March of 1978 he was hired by Martin Marietta in the Denver, CO area. He worked on many projects and retired in 2003 as a subcontract manager of Special Programs.

He found Prescott to enjoy his retirement years, but Embry-Riddle gave him an opportunity to share his engineering, satellite, and amateur radio knowledge with the students. After volunteering there for a while, he earned the Adjunct Professor of the Year Award twice. Many students earned their HAM radio licenses while in his classes. In 2017 he retired from Embry after arranging an adventure with the hams and students to observe the Solar Eclipse in WY.

His hobbies in addition to Ham Radio included Spelunking (NSS) in CO, AZ and many conventions in the US; Astronomy; Volksmarching (10 non-competitive hikes); Photography; camping; RVing and others.

Being an enthusiastic Amateur Radio operator since the age of 13, he was proud of his Extra category (W7JLC) license. He participated in various programs to help people earn their licenses. He co-founded Edge of Space Sciences (EOSS) in Colorado, as well as Arizona Near Space Research(ANSR) in Arizona. Check out their various websites to learn more as well as Space Grant Consortium, VVARA, and AMSAT.

His eyes were on the skies, identifying constellations, satellites, comets, eclipses etc. to family, friends, neighbors, and students. There were so many opportunities to share his hobbies, humor and help with others.

He also achieved his pilot license, even though he had a fear of heights. He enjoyed flying with folks to enjoy breakfasts at various airports, meeting more friends. Charisma must have been his middle name.

He is survived by his wife of 47 years Suzanne (Sereno): daughter Marci (Burton) Cagen; Grandson Skylar; 3 brothers - Bob (Maurita), Andy (Brenda), Rick (Linda) and 3 sisters - Margaret (Jr) McNabb, Debbie Taylor and Becky Taylor. Many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews who share remembering his humorous stories and sayings.

Family, Friends, Neighbors are too many to mention, but you know who you are.

A Celebration of his life will be held at Embry-Riddle August 30th at 4pm.

He will always be remembered.