Creig Ross Frair(1966-2012)
EARLTON - Creig Ross Frair, 64, died Tuesday (Dec. 18, 2012) at Calvary Hospital, Bronx, following a long battle against cancer. Born in Troy and raised in Portville and North Hadley, Mass., the son of Ross and Elizabeth (Merrick) Frair, he was a longtime resident of Earlton.
After graduating from Hopkins Academy, Hadley, Mass., in 1966, he continued his education at Springfield Technical Community College, Mass., and Arizona State University College of Business Administration, graduating in 1973 with a bachelor of science degree in computer science. He pursued a career as a software programmer and test engineer, working for various businesses in Arizona, Alaska and California. In 1984, he joined the IBM company in Palo Alto, Calif., but was soon transferred to their Poughkeepsie facility until his retirement in 2011. He not only took pride in his job, he loved it, and during his 27 years with the company, his engineering expertise and reputation strengthened. He truly relished the friends he made during his time with IBM.
Creig was a loving and generous man who treasured time with his family. He had a passion for nature and enjoyed living in the countryside, and he loved carpentry and rebuilding his home. His other interests were astronomy and traveling. The journey of his life was beautiful as long as it lasted.
He is survived by his wife, Natalia Boitchenko, his constant companion since 2002; his mother, Betty Frair; his brother, Keith Frair with his wife, Rose Walker; his sister, Janet (Frair) Copithorne with her husband, Bob Copithorne; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and friends.
At Creig's request, there were no calling hours. A memorial service will be held Jan. 19, 2013, at 11 a.m. at River's Edge United Methodist Church of Portville with lunch to follow.
Online condolences to the family may be sent to Natalia at bonafrair@yahoo.com">bonafrair@yahoo.com">bonafrair@yahoo.com">bonafrair@yahoo.com. Comments or memories to be shared at the memorial service may be sent to the same email address.
In lieu of flowers, those who wish may send contributions in Creig's memory to either Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, P.O. Box 27106, New York, NY 10087-7106, http://www.mskcc.org/giving or The Calvary Fund, Calvary Hospital, 1740 Eastchester Road, Bronx, NY 10461 www.calvaryhospital.org_(make a gift).
Published in The Olean Times Herald on Jan. 3, 2013
