Obituary of Craig Ellery Tufts

Craig Ellery Tufts, 62, of Middleburg, Virginia, passed away on Sunday, June 21, after a valiant battle with brain cancer. Craig was born in Orange, New Jersey, to Hugh Craig and Marion Estelle Tufts. He was raised in Brielle, New Jersey, and graduated from Manasquan High School. He received his undergraduate degree in Wildlife Conservation and a masters degree in Environmental Education, both from Cornell University. Craig joined the Peace Corps, where he spent 1972-73 in Colombia. He then moved to Northern Virginia in 1976 and began a career with the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) that lasted 33 years. As the Chief Naturalist for NWF, Craig strived to inspire and excite others to appreciate the natural world. He was an avid outdoorsman, fisherman, birder, and gardener throughout his life. Craig is survived by his wife, Jean Marie Tufts; sons, Ben and Dan Tufts; brother, Robert Tufts, sister-in-law, Lucinda Tufts; and numerous nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 on Sunday, June 28, at the Community Lutheran Church in Sterling, Virginia, at 21014 Whitfield Place. Memorial contributions may be made to the Craig Tufts Volunteer Education Fund at National Wildlife Federation; 11100 Wildlife Center Drive; Reston, VA 20190.