Richard James Crosbie December 14, 1922 – March 05, 2019 Share this obituary Send Flowers View/Sign Guest Book| Send Sympathy Card Richard J. Crosbie of Feasterville-Trevose PA passed away Tuesday March 5th, 2019 in his home with his family by his side, he was 96. Born December 14, 1922 in Washington PA, Richard was a long-time resident of Lower Southampton Township. Soon after the start of WW2 Richard completed his Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and physics at Washington Jefferson (W&J) College and joined the Navy Reserves.
He attended officer training at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis MD and served two years aboard the attack transport ship the USS American Legion. His ship became part of the armada poised to invade Japan when the war abruptly ended in 1945. He returned to teach mathematics as a Professor at W&J college while completing his Master’s degree in physics at the university of Pittsburgh.
In 1950, two years into his Doctorate studies he was offered a position in the Biophysics Department at the newly constructed human centrifuge at the Naval Air Development Station in Johnsville Pa. He earned recognition by converting the centrifuge controls from machined cam drives to a revolutionary computer control system he encountered while attending classes at Princeton University. The Centrifuge took on public notoriety when it was used to train America’s first astronauts to withstand the massive “G” forces encountered during lift off.
Richard proudly recalls his years working with the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo astronauts and called John Glenn as his favorite “crack up”. He took on the name “Father of the DFS” (Dynamic Flight Simulator) when he developed the mathematical algorithms and controls to simulate an actual aircraft, with all the forces a jet fighter pilot would encounter in flight. His numerous scientific papers, patents and expertise on the subject made him an International celebrity among his peers.
Richard was an avid Duplicate Bridge player and taught advanced bridge classes for many years in Warminster Pa. He achieved Gold Life Master status and continued to play up until his passing. Rich, as he was often called, was also a beautiful dancer.
He and his wife Joy loved to dance, and they commanded the dance floor as others looked on. Their close friends affectionately referred to them as “Fred and Ginger”. Son of the late Francis L. Crosbie and E. Susan Caine, brother to the late Dr. Edwin A. Crosbie, he is survived by his much-loved wife of 66 years Joy (Gehris), daughter Jill R. Crosbie (Nathan) and son Scott D. Crosbie (Patricia).
Richard’s extended family include Nedra and Vince Tucceri, Sarah Leslie, Jackie and George Laurence and many foreign exchange students that cared for him like a Dad. Family and Friends are invited to Richard’s life celebration service on Sunday April 28th at 1:00 pm at The Estate At Eagle Lake, 214 Sykesville Road Chesterfield, NJ. Transportation is arranged to bring guests from Scottsville United Methodist Church, 2400 Brownsville Road Feasterville-Trevose, PA 19053 at 12:30 to the event and return at 4:00.
Please contact Joy at 215-757-5486 or email Scott at scottcrosbie@msn.com to reserve transportation and to RSVP attendance at the celebration. Memorial contributions may be made to Scottsville United Methodist Church or Compassionate Care Hospice at 3331 Street Rd, #410, Bensalem, PA 19020. SERVICES Visitation Sunday, April 28, 2019 1:00 PM The Estate at Eagle Lake 214 Sykesville Rd.
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