Miss Caryl Crane: A Visionary (1908 - 1999) by Ronald M. Ruble

All her life, Caryl Crane dared to dream of wonderful things to come.  Never one to sit around and hope someone else might come up with the idea, she got the idea then did it.  She filled her ninety-one years of life with challenges and accomplishments that touched the hearts of so many people.

She received a music degree at University of Michigan, an education degree at Ohio State, taught music at Lorain School, sang at Severance Hall with Met Opera stars, sang professionally in New York, returned to the Lorain/Sandusky area to begin a career in women's fashions, and became a co-founder of Harlequins Community Theater. She founded a children's theater program in her name to fulfill a life long dream, and initiated the Caryl Crane Performing Arts Scholarship program to enable Firelands college students to work toward their degrees.

At the center of her quest was always a steadfast belief in the worth and value of the human being; with special focus on children  For Caryl, the slogan "Children Are Our Future," wasn't a hollow proclamation...it was real.  She was dedicated to giving children the opportunity to explore and discover who they are through theater and performance. 

I have a heart filled with loving memories of my dear friend Caryl Crane.  She cannot be replaced.  So, we have to learn to live with the memories we have of her. 

I'm so glad that hearts are albums...filled with pictures of yesterday.  Aren't you?

Dr. Ruble is Associate Professor Emeritus of Humanities at Firelands College
and the Artistic Director of the Caryl Crane Children's Theatre program at Firelands College.