Charles Craig Bristor

Charles "Craig" Bristor, a beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 18, 2024, at the age of 77, after a long and courageous struggle with dementia. A lifelong resident of Maryland, he spent most of his years in Lutherville, had a fulfilling career in Baltimore, and enjoyed recent retirement years on the Eastern Shore in Cambridge.

Born in Baltimore on July 28, 1946, Craig was the middle son of William Benthall and Alice Meikle Bristor. His parents instilled in him the importance of education, an appreciation of the outdoors and its preservation, the art of freshwater fishing, and a love for animals. A high school graduate of Baltimore Polytechnic Institute in 1964, he continued his education at the Community College of Baltimore County before answering the nation’s call for military service. Enlisting in the U.S. Army in March 1967, he served as a helicopter crew chief in Vietnam before he was honorably discharged in November 1968. Upon his return from service, he completed his bachelor's degree at the University of Maryland College Park. He later attained a Master of Business from Loyola University of Maryland, formerly Loyola College.

Craig's life was forever changed when he met Jean Wilson Vincent of Cambridge, MD, on a blind date in April 1971. After a short courtship, they married at Grace Methodist Church in Cambridge on June 30, 1972. They purchased their first home in 1976 in Lutherville, MD, and their family grew with the arrival of a daughter, Allyson, and a son, Andrew. In Baltimore, Craig was a dedicated professional for Excelon, formerly Baltimore Gas & Electric (BG&E) Power. He served in various company roles, investing 41 years into his work before retiring in April 2013. The next few years were joyously spent with two new grandchildren and many family trips between Bermuda, Maine, Montana, and South Carolina. 

In 2018, Craig and Jeani decided to return to her “roots” and live in Cambridge, where they had spent much of their married life, on weekends and during summers. Members of the Cambridge Yacht Club, Craig and Jeani were avid boaters and endlessly enjoyed exploring the Chesapeake Bay. They also loved traveling in the Caribbean, Great Britain, as well as sightseeing throughout the United States. Even into his seventies, Craig enjoyed snow skiing in Montana and motor scootering in Bermuda. Craig was always fascinated with how things worked and especially loved boats, planes, trains, and automobiles. One of his favorite memories shared with friends was being a passenger in a B-17 plane, the plane his father piloted in WWII. 

Craig’s greatest passion, however, was his children. Watching them play and excel in sports both in high school and college brought him immense happiness. He is remembered by many of his children’s friends and teammates as being such a supportive and “fun” parent. He instilled in his children the importance of courage, confidence, and diligently pursuing their own goals in life. Craig’s endless energy in everything he did, his kind heart, and humor touched the lives of many, and friends and family will deeply miss him.

Surviving Craig is his wife of 52 years, Jean Vincent Bristor; two children, daughter Allyson Bristor Brekke and her husband Christopher of Bozeman, MT, and son Andrew Craig Vincent Bristor and wife Aurora of Rockville, MD; grandchildren Vincent Arthur Brekke and Thea Jeanelle Brekke, Felicity Cassells Bristor and Emmett Alexander Bristor; brother William Benthall Bristor, Jr. and his wife Jean and their children Elizabeth and William and their families; sister-in-law Catherine Vincent Mayer and her husband Douglass and their children Douglass and Melissa and their families. Preceding him in death, besides his parents, was his younger brother, David Michael Bristor. 

A memorial graveside service will be held on Saturday, September 28th at 12 o’clock noon at Old Trinity Church Cemetery in Church Creek, with Chaplain Joel Beiler officiating. A memorial reception for Craig will be at the Cambridge Yacht Club in Cambridge. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Craig's name can be sent to Coastal Hospice Foundation, PO Box 1733 Salisbury, MD 21802, or Baywater Animal Rescue, 4930 Bucktown Rd, Cambridge, MD 21613.