Michael Alan Crecca, 64, of Manassas, passed away on 6 September 2023.
Michael was born in Charleston, West Virginia to John Daniel Crecca and Jodie Alice (Fischer) Crecca. Michael was raised in Granville, Ohio and in school was known for his high achieving abilities in mathematics and playing on the high school’s first soccer team.
Michael attended Case Western Reserve University as a Horsburgh Scholar where he successfully completed a B.S. in mathematical physics. While at Case he was a member of Phi Kappa Tau, Tau Beta Pi, and the varsity soccer team. Following his time at Case, Michael attended Indiana University, Bloomington, completing a M.S. and Ph.D. in physics with the thesis “The Role of Retardation in the Structure and Linear Response of Finite Nucleiâ€. He was also published in the Physical Review C. At the time of his passing he was working on a book of mathematical proofs. While at Indiana he became an opera enthusiast attending many of the university’s opera productions, played intermural soccer, and was a member of the community’s Ski Patrol.
Michael came to the Washington D.C. area in 1990 to join the research staff of the Center for Naval Analyses and throughout his career held multiple research positions in organizations such as Sparta (Cobham Analytics), URS, and TASC in support of the U.S. Department of Defense and various intelligence agencies.
Although physics was his vocation, Michael had numerous interests including military history, classic movies and TV, and all forms of music from classical to classic rock. Michael was a collector and restorer of “Britain†toy soldiers and was known as a marvelous chef. His knowledge of single malt scotch was unparalleled. Michael was an avid lover of all dogs, but his choice of breed was the beagle and he and his wife had many rescues during their marriage. Michael loved travel, especially to Europe, and was known in one small town in Spain as the “Grande American!â€
Michael joined the Knights of Columbus, Council 8183, in 2006, and later became a Fourth Degree with the Father Kelley Assembly. He was a dedicated supporter of the KOVAR drives and spent many years as the lead fundraiser for the Council’s “Food for the Needy†program at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Lake Ridge. Michael was also a stalwart supporter, assistant, and key advisor to his wife’s efforts with our local brothers and sisters experiencing homelessness. He was always trying to help others.
Michael loved sports and when not personally competing, he followed his college and professional teams, notably the Indiana Hoosiers, Cleveland Browns, and Cleveland
Indians/Guardians.
Michael is survived by his wife of 32 years, Michele; his son Anthony Crecca; his daughter and son-in-law Mary and Daquona Peede; his brothers and sisters-in-law, John David and Anne Crecca, and Thomas and Pamela Crecca; his granddaughters Amethyst and Saphira Peede; his mother Jodie Crecca; his father and mother in-law Robert and Patricia Stuckey; and many more loving relatives. Michael is preceded in death by his father, John Daniel Crecca.
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