“The Dayton Art Institute is saddened to learn of the passing of long-time volunteer and friend of the museum, Todd Crawford. Todd served as a member of the DAI Associate Board since 2016, including his role as Art Ball Chair in 2019 and Oktoberfest Co-Chair this year. It is impossible to tally the countless hours Todd gave to the museum, nor the funds he raised in the nearly eight years of dedicated service to the Associate Board,” a statement from the board reads.
Born in Greenville, Crawford was raised in Darke County and graduated from Arcanum High School before enlisting in the Air Force.
Crawford was the first volunteer to arrive, and often the last to leave, his colleagues said. He was fixture at every signature event in Dayton.
Crawford was a member of many nonprofit boards, including the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Miami Valley Fund Development Committee, Child Care Choices of Miami County, the Muse Machine, the Human Race Theatre Company and his beloved Associate Board at the Dayton Art Institute (DAI).
“In 2019, Todd helped select the word “Icon” to be the theme for Art Ball, highlighting the entire building as the art inspiration for the event. We can think of no better word to also describe Todd Crawford. He was a true Icon of Dayton, and his leadership, friendship and presence will be missed greatly at the DAI,” the DAI statement says.
He never shied away from hard work especially in his beloved historic Oregon District neighborhood where he lived for more than 25 years and served as an elected trustee, his obituary reads.
“He was an active volunteer in the community, a great ally in Pride, and a beloved friend to many,” the Greater Dayton LGBT Center said in a statement.
Crawford was a treasury management vice president at PNC Bank in Dayton and was one of the top finalists this year for the highest award at the bank, the PNC Performance Award.
A visitation for Crawford will be held at Tobias Funeral Home, 5471 Far Hills Ave, from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday. Inurnment of his cremated remains will take place at Dayton’s Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum at a later date.