John Victor Cricchi

Captain John Victor Cricchi, USN (Ret.), 84, died peacefully on April 15, 2015 in Charlotte NC. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pa. but grew up in Detroit, Michigan. He received an appointment to the US Naval Academy where he was a varsity baseball pitcher and graduated with the class of 1953. During his 27 year naval career, he served on various ships and staffs of the US Atlantic Fleet. His favorite tour was as Commanding Officer of the USS Aggressive (MSO-422) where he participated in the naval blockade operations during the Cuban Missile Crisis. After a tour at the U.S. Embassy in Pretoria, South Africa as Assistant Naval Attaché, in 1967, he was ordered to Vietnam first as Civic Action Officer and then as Assistant Chief of Staff, Intelligence and Security for Commander, Naval Support Activity, Danang. He also served as Commanding Officer of Naval Investigative Service Office, Charleston. His final tour of duty was with the Defense Intelligence Agency at Arlington Hall, Virginia where he retired in 1980. His personal decorations include the Bronze Star with Combat "V", the Navy Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal and the Defense Meritorious Medal. After his retirement from the Navy he worked as an intelligence researcher/analyst for Delex Systems, Inc. in Fairfax, VA. In his retirement years he enjoyed traveling, reading, golfing and writing a memoir for his five grandchildren. He was fond of saying that in the category of "Fortunate Cookies" he was in the 99th percentile. In addition to his loving wife of 57 years, Ann Lumpkin Cricchi, he is survived by his sister Elizabeth Grace Bueter of Venice FL; his son Thomas Joseph Cricchi, wife Bonnie of Richmond VA and grandchildren Lauren Elizabeth Cricchi of Washington D.C. and William Coleman Cricchi of Charlottesville, VA; his son Stephen Edward Cricchi, wife Amy and grandson Tyler Joseph Cricchi of Leonardtown, MD; and his daughter Ellen Cricchi Scott, husband David and grandchildren Ryan Joseph Scott and Hannah Grace Scott, all of Charlotte NC. Interment with full military honors will be in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. Memorials may be contributed to Manna Community Meal, 1050 Porter, Detroit, MI, 48226, a soup kitchen run by his brother-in-law, Rev. Thomas Lumpkin. Online condolences to the family may be made at www.palmettofh.com. The family is being served by Palmetto Funeral Home and Crematory of Fort Mill, SC

To plant a tree in memory of John Victor Cricchi, visit the Tribute Store .