Randy Crozsman
Randy believed that we are not human beings living a spiritual existence, we are spiritual beings living a human existence. With that confidence, he moved peacefully, surrounded by family, from his human existence on October 15, 2022.
Those who knew him would say he was a man of wisdom, love, and playfulness; a feminist and a strong voice for justice and human rights.
Cliff and Jean Crozsman received an early Christmas present on December 19, 1950 in the form of their first son, Randy. Randy grew up on the waterfront of Halifax in the 1950’s and 60’s and his upbringing there planted the seed for his future of supporting under privileged and marginalized people of all backgrounds.
Randy was a proud Ordained Clergy with the United Church of Canada having served some 40 years in Pastoral Charges in New Germany, Lower Sackville, New Minas, Kentville and Halifax, NS; as well as Burlington and Brantford, ON. Upon retirement he even did a term at a little rural Baptist church on the south shore of Nova Scotia - close to the ocean, his favourite place to be. If you did not find Randy at work he was usually at a Rotary meeting, a teen shelter meeting, a Canadian Foodgrains Bank presentation, a youth camp meeting, having lunch at Paddy’s or, in his happy place - his workshop.
Randy would tell anyone who listened that he was a proud graduate of Dalhousie University and later of the Atlantic School of Theology. In 1995 he graduated from the Graduate Theological Foundation with a Doctorate of Ministry, an accomplishment which gave him great pride.
Randy was a world traveler, having visited 31 countries, six of which were in Africa as part of a delegation from Canadian Foodgrains Bank whose focus is to provide education and support to countries endeavouring to sustain food security. In addition, he and Brenda travelled to India to vaccinate children as part of the Rotary Polio Plus campaign to eliminate polio from the world. As service opportunities seemed to call them, they also built with Habitat for Humanity in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. Travel was their chosen lifestyle and they cherished travelling together to 23 countries.
Randy and his partner in life, Brenda, always declared to each other that their time together during this human existence is only "Chapter 1". Though Brenda will miss him profoundly, she will endeavour to live on in a way that honours them both.
The four families who will miss him the most are his son, Brett Crozsman and his children, Cole and Mackenzie; his daughter, Beth (Crozsman) Burchinshaw (Philip) and their two girls, Sophia and Chloe; his stepdaughter, Carrie (Heisler) Rand (Wesley) and their two boys, Llewyn and Sullivan and his stepson, Craig Heisler (Jenna). He was very proud of all of them and often spoke how grateful he was for how perfectly "blended" their family was. Family times together were always filled with joy.
While it is true, he was taken far too soon, long before all the adventures, fun and family time he’d hoped for, he never complained and kept a positive attitude from day one of his diagnosis.
Visitation will be held from 7-9 p.m. on Saturday, October 29, 2022 in the White Family Funeral Home, Kentville where a love themed celebration of Randy’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 30, 2022. A livestream of the service will be available at that time.
Should you feel called to make a memorial donation you might consider the following, which were close to his heart: Polio Plus through Rotary International; Canadian Foodgrains Bank (eliminating food security in developing countries); Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation; ALS Society of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Kentville, for whom Randy held a deep respect. For online condolences, inquiries and to view the video webcast, please visit: www.whitefamilyfuneralhome.com.
Chapter 1 for him has ended but Chapter 2 holds promise.