On July 7th, 2026, surrounded by his loving family, James “Jim” Conrad Crichton passed away after a courageous battle with Multiple Myeloma.

Jim was born on May 9th, 1960 to Elizabeth (Betty Jean) and Edward (Ed) Crichton in Chatham, New Jersey. His family moved to Silver Spring, Maryland in 1969. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Yale University and a Master of Science in Computer Science from Johns Hopkins University. In 1988, Jim met the love of his life, Ginny, on a recreational volleyball team. They were married in 1991 and raised two children, Anna and Alec, in Derwood, Maryland.

Jim was known for his dry, witty sense of humor and adventurous spirit. He loved spending time outdoors and particularly enjoyed hiking, paddling, frisbee golf and scuba diving.  He cherished his annual vacations with his family, especially trips to Rehoboth Beach, Mountain Lake Lodge in Virginia, and family reunions in Iowa. He also enjoyed intellectual challenges and loved reading, puzzles, cards, and board games.

Valued by his coworkers for his kindness, intellect and work ethic, Jim had a long and fulfilling 40-year career in the satellite industry. His work contributed to important technical developments in support of critical missions around the world.

Above all else, Jim loved his family. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle. His wisdom, empathy, and unwavering strength made him the rock of his family. Jim was always willing to go out of his way to help his loved ones, from carrying his family’s belongings up a mountain to solving everyone’s technology problems. He will always be remembered for his generous and caring nature.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Ginny, his children Anna (Nathan) Fox and Alec (Emily) Crichton, and his grandson, Archer Fox. He is also survived by his siblings Jean, Alison, and Ross (Helen) Crichton, and many loving nieces, nephews, and extended family members.

Jim’s family will be hosting a Celebration of Life in the coming weeks. Details will be shared at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation -  https://themmrf.org/ ; or to The Nature Conservancy - https://www.nature.org/en-us/.