Prescott Clough Crafts Jr.

August 7, 1920 - June 30, 2017

A native of Massachusetts, Prescott Clough Crafts, Jr. was born in 1920 and lived in the Boston area until 1992, when he moved to San Diego. He attended the public schools in Belmont, and was graduated from Boston University with honors, where he was elected to the national honorary society, Beta Gamma Sigma. He also attended the Graduate School of banking at Rutgers University. During World War II, Prescott served as Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy Supply Corps. During his career of 39 years with Bank of Boston (now Fleet Boston, the 7th largest bank in the nation), he developed the bank’s operations in Asia; also monitoring the Washington scene for the bank. For his contributions over the years in fostering better relations and understanding between the USA and Japan, Prescott was awarded the “Order of the Sacred Treasure” by Emperor Hirohito. He also served as a member of a U.S. government Trade Mission to India, by appointment of the Secretary of Commerce. Upon retiring from international banking, Mr. Crafts headed the International Business Center and played a central role in organizing what became the World Trade Center on Boston’s waterfront. He then joined Babson College, Wellesley, Massachusetts, as “Director of International Programs”, working with MBAs doing consultancies overseas with leading companies. Long Active in the Boston Community, Prescott was President of both the World Affairs Council and the Japan Society. At his alma mater, Boston University, he was President of the university-wide Alumni Association and Chairman of the National Alumni Council; serving also as Trustee of the University. For his ““Outstanding Service to the University”, he received the Alumni Medal. Also reflecting his interest in education, Prescott was part-time instructor at the University for several years. Prescott was married for 40 years to the former Shirley Wilson, who died in 1997. For many years, they lived in Wellesley, Massachusetts and Falmouth Cape Cod, before moving to San Diego. Subsequently, he married Eunice Lear-Requa. An active Episcopalian over the years, Prescott credits his parents with the strong start he was given in church life, by introducing him to the Boys’ Choirs at St. Paul’s Cathedral and Trinity Church, both in the city of Boston. Since moving to Rancho Bernardo, he has been a member of the Vestry at Saint Bartholemew’s Episcopal Church, Poway, California, and active in the “International Order of Saint Luke, the Physician”, a healing ministry. In the rancho Bernardo Community, Prescott has been a Director of the Continuing Education Center, affiliated with the San Diego State University. Prescott leaves his two nieces, Nancy Pelton of New Hampshire, and Judith Smolin of North Tustin, California. A GIRL’S SIGHT When Prescott graduated from high school, he knew that he would have to keep his full-time job as “messenger” with the Bank of Boston, while he attended Boston University as a night student. Because he planned to graduate with his friends, he took advantage of each summer to pre-read all of the texts for the following years. When Pres was 20, however, he was told that he would have to have cataracts removed in both eyes; a very difficult operation in 1940. He still graduated in three years, with honors, night classes only, from his beloved Boston University. His eyes were his greatest physical challenge, and he would be commonly approached about his experiences. One day he was talking about his incredible doctor in Boston who had saved his vision, and another man; an Indian man with whom he was doing business, pulled him aside to tell Prescott the story of his little girl. She was going blind, and they could not find a doctor who could help her. Prescott not only recommended his own doctor, but set up an appointment and made sure they were ushered to the office. The little girl’s sight was saved, and her father was a very, very grateful man. So this is the story behind these beautiful carved ivory statuettes of the Hindu Goddess of Learning, “Sarasvati”,- a gift of gratitude from a father who watched his daughter see the world again.