John Kuenzil Crawford, 68, of Tucson, died suddenly July 25, 1999 while returning on the Sunset Limited from a summer trip. He is survived by wife Roberta (nee John), sister Barbara (Vern), and sister-in-law Lois Lewis; and by nieces, nephews, cousins and one aunt.
John was born in Madison, Wisconsin, but always considered himself a "native Arizonan." He was a member of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the American Planning Association, the American Institute of Certified Planners, and the Arizona Planning Association. He was also a member of the Arizona Historical Society.
His photography has been published in Photographer's Forum Annual, and in National Geographic Traveler. He also donated his photographic work to the Arizona Preservation Foundation, the University of North Carolina Planning Department and many private parties.
His poetry has been published with the Arizona Poetry Society and other national poetry anthologies.
His interest in Astronomy led him to build a telescope while in Junior High School. He continued to build several throughout his life.
He has presented many slide shows to groups, on the subjects of Arizona ghost towns, railroading, and historic sites.
Other than riding every tourist railroad in the Southwest, and many of the United States' commuter rail systems, John found pleasure in riding with his wife Bobbie on the Coast Starlight, Silver Meteor, Empire Builder, Sunset Limited, North Coast Hiawatha, Southwest Chief, Ann Rutledge, Crescent, Carolinian, Texas Eagle, California Zephyr, Desert Wind, City of New Orleans, and the San Diegans.
John's contributions to history, photography, education, planning, and preservation are great, and he will be missed.
— Marc Pearsall
note: Mr. Crawford's photo collection has been donated to ARPA and several of his pictures may be found throughout this website. We are grateful to Mrs. Crawford for her assistance.