'His Memory Is Living On'

Nearly two dozen people attended the Northbrook village board meeting Tuesday to show their support for the family of .

Village President Sandy Frum read a resolution recognizing Crane, who was honored with the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s 2011 National Personal Achievement Award. Diagnosed with a rare form of muscular dystrophy at the age of four, the 23-year-old Northbrook resident died June 11, a few hours before his family learned that he had received the national honor.

“Scott never let his diagnosis prevent him from dreaming big or working to accomplish those dreams,” said Frum.

Crane graduated from  and continued his education at the Community College of Lake County and Oakton Community School. He worked at the  at  and spent time volunteering at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.

Throughout his life, Crane had a passion for food and dreamed of becoming a food critic. After he became seriously ill and was hospitalized for several months in 2009, Crane began meeting with a care consultant from the  for weekly cooking therapy sessions. He described his experiences in his blog Live To Eat …Tales from Cooking Therapy, worked on a cookbook to benefit the hospice center and helped found , a nonprofit organization that connects chefs with sick and disabled foodies.

“On behalf of the entire community, we recognize Scott Crane for his achievements as well as his unwavering determination and desire to help others,” Frum said. “Even though adversity was a part of his daily life, he never wavered in his drive to make a difference. We thank Scott for everything that he accomplished and know that his organization will continue to make a difference in the years to come.”

Once the resolution was unanimously passed, everyone in the room gave a standing ovation as Scott’s parents, Teena and Michael Crane, stood to accept a plaque inscribed with the honor.

“It was very emotional, very rewarding,” Michael Crane said. “We’re very appreciative to the village for honoring Scott.”

Teena Crane teared up during the reading and afterwards as she gathered her friends together to pose for pictures with the award.

“His memory is living on,” she said. “These wonderful friends came to be here this evening in his memory.”

One of those friends was Sandy Kaminsky, a volunteer at Midwest Palliative & Hospice CareCenter who did cooking therapy with Scott during the last five months of his life. She said he always called her Julia because of her resemblance to Julia Child.

“He was so dynamic,” she said. “He loved what he was doing and he was a pleasure to work with.”