Chester Witecki Crosby

Chester Witecki Crosby, 87, of Auburn passed away, after a brief illness, Thursday evening, March 12, 2026, surrounded by his loving family at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Syracuse.

He was born in Auburn, the son of the late Arthur and Wanda (Witecki) Crosby, and resided in Montezuma during his early childhood. Chet graduated from East High School in 1958 and received his Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from Lycoming College in Pennsylvania. He was a standout athlete, excelling in wrestling, football, and track. Representative of his accomplishments, he was a top wrestler and won the championship in Central NY for his weight class. He was inducted into the Auburn High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011 for his various accolades.

Chet taught science to fifth and sixth grade students in Seneca Falls for over thirty years. He excelled on the academic front and he was particularly adept at conveying his enthusiasm for the environment to his students. As part of these efforts, he took his class to the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge each year. His accomplishments were widely recognized, and, in 1984, he earned the prestigious honor of being selected as the New York State Conservation Educator of the Year.

He was also an avid golfer and outdoorsman, enjoying hunting, fishing, and trapping. He was the former President of the Owasco Lake Anglers’ Association and led the effort to introduce walleyes into the lake. His dedication to the environmental protection of Owasco Lake was greatly valued and reflected his long-term advocacy of this issue.

Above everything, Chet cherished his family and seldom missed any of his children’s and grandchildren’s events. He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Bonnie (Silvernail) Crosby; sons, Steven (Michelle), Peter, Thomas; and grandchildren, Zachary, Samuel, Megan, Braydon. He is also survived by his sister Barbara Knapp, as well as several nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives. He was predeceased by his stepmother, Stephanie Crosby.

A private service was held for the family. If you would like to contribute to Chet’s legacy, please consider a donation in his name to the Owasco Watershed Lake Association (OWLA) at P.O. Box 1, Auburn, NY 13021. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Chester Witecki Crosby, please visit our floral store.