Benjamin Crue

Benjamin Lane Crue, Jr. passed away on February 2, 2015, in Rocklin, California. He was 89. Ben was born May 22, 1925, in Rahway, New Jersey. He married Beverly Malyon in 1943 and they had 54 happy years together. She passed away from breast cancer in 1997. He married Kathleen Watson Bauer in 2001 and enjoyed her company until her death in 2007. Ben and Beverly had four children and several foster children. Ben is survived by three of his children, numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, as well extended family and friends. Ben was preceded in death by his beloved son, Ben Crue III.
While on active duty with the U.S. Navy, Ben attended the University of Chicago where he received his Bachelor of Science degree and M.D. in 1948 at the age of 22. He then completed a year of general residency in Oakland, California, before being sent by the Navy for a neurosurgical residency at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena, California. He further completed fellowships at Yale University and the Lahey Clinic. Ben went into private practice in 1960 in Pasadena, California. Along with many other noteworthy accomplishments he was especially proud to be on the faculty at the University of Southern California, School of Medicine, where in 1985 he was made an Emeritus Clinical Professor of Neurological Surgery. Ben served 34 years (13 years on active duty) with the U.S. Navy. During his medical career he was active in the treatment of patients with chronic pain and served as the Director of the Neurosurgery Department and Chairman of the Neurology Division at the City of Hope Medical Center for over twenty years. He started the City of Hope Pain Center and the New Hope Pain Center. He was a founding member of the International Association for the Study of Pain, a founding member and second president of the American Pain Society and a founding member and first president of the American Academy of Pain Medicine.
In 1985, Ben and Beverly moved to Durango, Colorado. Ben practiced neurosurgery and was the Durango Pain Rehabilitation Center Medical Director until he retired in 1993. He loved his friends and neighbors in Falls Creek Ranch where he lived until 2012. He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints where he was a member of the San Marino Ward and the Durango First Ward. Ben was also an avid outdoorsman. There was no where he would rather be than sitting around a campfire with his family and friends recalling tales of some great hunting adventure. Ben lived an incredibly full and meaningful life and all who knew and loved him will miss him tremendously.
Ben was laid to rest next to Beverly, his son Ben, and other family members in Hermosa, Colorado. A celebration of his life will be held on July 11 in Durango.