LANCASTER—Calvin “Cal” Bryant Strachan passed away on January 16, 2024, at the age of 76 in his home in Lancaster.
Cal was born on June 18, 1947, in Cleveland, Ohio, and raised in Boulder City, Nevada. The desert held little appeal to Cal; it was the water that called his name, leading him to enlist in the Navy in 1966. He served as an electrician until 1971. His fondest memories of that time were spent on the Mediterranean. Upon discharge he combined his brilliant technical mind and love for the ocean into a successful career as marine electrician and then worked at Hewlett-Packard for over 20 years.
Cal was easy going, except when he wasn’t. But even in those moments there would be a twinkle in his eye or a subtle smirk that let you know we’d soon be laughing again. With a tempered, deliberate delivery, Cal gave as good as he got. Which is a good thing because boy did he love to give it. Though don’t be fooled, underneath it all he was a big ‘ole softy, with a smile as large as his lust for life.
Cal loved to laugh, specifically at the work of Mel Brooks and Monty Python. His sport was soccer, his team Liverpool. In the winters he skied. Cal had a thirst for knowledge and was a voracious reader. He enjoyed building computers and tinkering with whatever could be tinkered. He could watch the same science fiction movie over and over again. Really anything involving space captured his attention; and in another life he would’ve loved to travel to the moon.
In 2010 he retired to Virginia, where he spent his days pursuing his life’s passion, sailing his Tartan 31, Dogfish; and teaching others, as he taught himself.
But it was his family that brought him the most joy. Cal had always wanted a big family, and he got his wish. He loved all of his children equally but wasn’t above playing favorites as long as the others were out of earshot. Cal never missed an opportunity to teach his children how to be self-sufficient; and on the off chance the lesson didn’t stick, Dad was always there to lend a helping hand.
To his grandchildren he was known as “Grampy” and “Buddy”, and he was one in the truest sense of the word, passing on a lifetime of knowledge, sharing his love for sailing, hiking and bird watching, and from time to time teaching them some things they might not have been old enough to learn.
He is survived by his wife, Christine Collins; children, Shawna Strachan (Seth), Hillary Prosek (Brian), Laura Strachan and Neal Strachan (Amy); stepchildren, Pam Reynolds (Joel) and Yvonne Reynolds; nine grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. And his cat Alex, who better not get any ideas about becoming an indoor cat.
A private celebration of life will be held for family and friends. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to CRAB, Chesapeake Regional Adaptive Boating, at crabsailing.org.
Currie Funeral Home LLC of Kilmarnock handled the arrangements.
