Ross Crawford left NY for the truly amazing Summerville, SC. 52 years young, he has an incredible 14 year old autistic son named Charlie. Ross is a proud member of the Summerville Rotary Club. He enjoys participating in several charities, some of which are Blessing Boxes of Summerville, Water Mission, Autism Speaks, MS Society, Susan G Komen, and several Abused Women’s Shelters. He also sits on the Board of The Mayor’s Committee for Special Needs and The Cultural Arts Center. He enjoys camping, fishing, hunting, reading, and traveling around our great country. Ross says he is truly blessed to be a part of the Summerville Community. If you see Ross in town, be sure to stop, say hello, and introduce yourself!
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
I am an only child. I have a very special and perfect girl in my life. My 14 year old son Charlie is truly my heart.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
I enjoy a career as a financial and business consultant. Much like the charities I am involved in, I enjoy truly helping people. Whether it’s planning for retirement, providing health insurance that protects them and their family, helping parents send their children to college, or assisting someone during the painful time of divorce, I help them put the financial pieces together.
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
I love so many places in Summerville, however, some of my go-to eateries are, Montreaux’s for Sunday Brunch, Yokoso for Hibachi and Sushi, and Five Loaves for Farm to Table meals.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
I have had the privilege of living in Summerville for 3 1/2 years.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
Brad Mallet, the proprietor of Coastal Coffee Roasters, is one of my Rotary Brothers and is also heavily involved in charities and is just a generous person as a rule. He always has both time and a smile for everyone.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
I could certainly use a vacation and would love a week or two in Aruba, enjoying the perfect weather, fabulous food, scuba diving, and getting in some jet ski time. Of course just laying on the beach or in a hammock and doing some reading would be wonderful too.
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
I don’t really watch a lot of tv, however, one of my favorite movies is A River Runs Through It.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
Take more time to look around and count your blessings. We are too focused on problems and issues, so the blessings fade to the background unseen too often.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
I’d love to go to Italy and take professional cooking lessons from a world renown chef.
Q: What is your go to band when you cant decide what to listen to?
Breaking Benjamin or Five Finger Death Punch
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
Guerin’s Pharmacy. It is the oldest pharmacy in South Carolina and still has the original feel and items you’d expect to see in the past.
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
Warren Buffet is someone I’d love to spend time with and hear his advice and philosophy on life and investing. I would go eat at Five Loaves with him.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
I enjoy the peaceful tranquility of Azalea Square Park. It’s beautiful wildlife, fragrant flowers, and bushes make it a great place to clear your head or hold hands and walk through with a loved one.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
I see myself remarried and living here in a ranch with some more land and spending more time with family than at work.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
I survived a brutal car accident in 2001. I came out of a 5 day coma, and after 26 surgeries, I am at my best right now!
Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
That’s a tough one, but it’s a toss up between Greece and Spain.
Q: Favorite month? favorite holiday? and best single day on the calendar?
June is my favorite month. It’s the month my son was born; it has Father’s Day, which I get to celebrate because of him; it is my birthday; and it is perfect weather for swimming and fishing. My favorite holiday is, without a doubt, Christmas– the time of joy and wonder and giving and selflessness and family. Best single day on the calendar is June 29th, my son’s birthday.
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
A sunny tropical island with someone special
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
I always tell people that my son made me a better man. He continues to be my inspiration.
Q: What is one or two of your favorite smells?
Garlic being sautéed and honeysuckle
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Safe, Comfortable, Love lives there.
