Ralph Crosby Obituary

CROSBY, Ralph Robinson "Rob", III, 57, of Richmond, Va., passed away Thursday, January 27, 2022, after a courageous battle with cancer. He was preceded in death by his mother, Joan Crosby. Rob was born in Hartford, Conn., just minutes ahead of his twin brother, Tom. After his family relocated to Richmond, Rob graduated from The Collegiate School in 1983, where he began collecting the wide and loyal circle of friends he maintained to this day. He attended Washington & Lee University and later received his B.S. in Mass Communications from Virginia Commonwealth University. He initially pursued a career in journalism, ultimately assuming the role of editor-in-chief of the Mechanicsville Local from 1995 to 1999. He switched careers in 2000, spending the next decade as a Network Administrator for the Tattersall Advisory Group, and then the decade after that as an independent IT Project Manager for numerous companies in Richmond. Rob also was a talented and in-demand drummer, playing with local bands including Flipside, Onionhead, The Hashbury Collective, Fennario, Last Fair Deal and Gettin' Weir'd. He loved playing golf, watching the Pittsburgh Steelers, listening to the Beatles and relaxing at the river. Rob leaves behind his beloved wife, Barbara; and his two sons, Alex and Paul. He also leaves behind his father, Ralph R. Crosby Jr.; his four brothers and their spouses, Douglas Crosby (Jennifer), Philip Crosby (David Ballas), E. Bradley Crosby (Terry) and his twin, Thomas Crosby (Beverley); as well as his mother-in-law, Mildred Grant; sisters-in-law, Lisa Grant Tillman (Dennis) and Laura Welch (Sean); and nine nieces and nephews, Ava, Bay, Daniel, Jack and Pierce, all of Richmond and Christine, Victoria, Grant and Sofia of Arlington. Visitation with the family will be held at Bliley's - Augusta Ave., 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, February 2, 2022. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church on Thursday, February 3, 2022. Private burial will follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Massey Cancer Center or Dave Schools Scholarship for Music at The Collegiate School.