Dana Crocker

Dana Lent Crocker of DeWitt, New York passed away on March 29, 2023 after a short illness at the age of 75. Dana was born on December 31, 1947, to the late Lt. Commander John and Margaret Crocker at the United States Naval Station in Patuxent River, Maryland. With his dad serving in the Navy, Dana moved around the country with his family and even lived in Japan when he was a young boy. His family ended up settling down near Pensacola, Florida and he went on to graduate from Milton High School. Dana attended Troy State University in Alabama and earned a degree in accounting. Knowing he would be drafted for the Vietnam War, Dana decided to join the United States Air Force soon after college and completed pilot training at Craig Air Force Base in Alabama and was stationed at Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome, New York. Dana became a Lieutenant and piloted the KC-135 Stratotanker whose main purpose was to conduct aerial refueling. In the late 1970s, Dana switched gears and became a realtor, eventually becoming a commercial real estate broker with Hunt Real Estate. Dana won several awards throughout his career, including being named New York State Commercial Broker of the Year in 2013. Dana held both Graduate Realtor Institute and Certified Residential Specialist designations, was the Founder of the Greater Syracuse Chapter of the New York State Commercial Association of Realtors and was the current President of the New York State Commercial Association of Realtors. Dana was a joy to be around and loved talking to anyone he met. Dana was a loving husband, a great dad, and a wonderful grandpa who loved spoiling his grandchildren. He would do anything for his family and was especially proud of his two daughters, Lauren and Megan. Over the years, some of the best times with family and friends were spent on the boat, a 22-ft open bow Wellcraft which became part of the family. In addition to playing golf, traveling to Rehoboth Beach with his wife in the summers, and playing with his grandkids, Dana loved to read every evening.

Dana was predeceased by his sister Marcia Anne Ray and son-in-law Scott Klarr Jr.

Dana is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Lorraine Crocker; daughters Lauren (Seth) Livermore of Liverpool, N.Y., and Megan Crocker of Salt Lake City, Utah; grandchildren Leilani and Daniel Livermore; brother John (Jane) Crocker of Tavernier, Florida; sister Rosemary Crocker of Milton, Florida; brother-in-law Steven Hales; and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in is honor to the Food Bank of Central New York (https://give.foodbankcny.org/site/Donation2;jsessionid=00000000.app30124a?idb=0&df_id=1400&1400.donation=form1&NONCE_TOKEN=47825104FB7330A073116FDF2D0F3873) or the Greater Syracuse Area Section of the Society of Women Engineers who awards scholarships to young women entering the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) fields (http://greatersyracuse.swe.org/).