For more than 30 years Frank Crippen sold what he deemed a small slice of the American dream from a lot along Northeast 123rd Street in North Miami. As owner of Crippen Oldsmobile, the New York native sold shiny new cars to locals and along the way carved a name for his charitable works with local Catholic groups. Crippen, who once appeared in television commercials alongside other local Oldsmobile dealers under the slogan ''five young men with the Olds idea,'' died of a stroke Friday. He was 79.
In 1965, Crippen moved his family from Lansing, Mich., where he was the General Sales Manager of an Oldsmobile dealership to Miami to open his own car dealership.
''He started out as car salesman in Rochester, New York and moved his way up,'' said his daughter, Sharon Crippen-Ginsburg of Miami. ``He came from a working class background, and was a classic example of a self-made man.''
Throughout his time in Miami-Dade, Crippen remained active in several prominent organizations and clubs -- including serving on the Board of Trustees for Barry University for nearly 25 years. The Coral Gables resident also formerly served as president of the Bal Harbour Club, and was a member of the Rotary Club of Miami Shores.
In 1991, he was installed as a Knight of the Order of Malta, a religious order of the Roman Catholic Church that promotes work with the sick and the poor. He also worked as a board member for the Marian Center, a nonprofit private school for children and adults with developmental disabilities.
Crippen is survived by his wife of 58 years, Dorothy Summers Crippen, sons Jeff and James Crippen, and daughters Deborah Caruso and Sharon Crippen-Ginsburg, along with thirteen grand children and two great grandchildren.
A memorial service is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Monday at St. Louis Catholic Church, 7270 SW 120th Street, in Pinecrest. The family requests that memorial donations be made to either or both the Marian Center School and Services, 15701 NW 37th Avenue, Miami Gardens, FL 33054 or the Order of Malta -- South Florida, 16401 NW 37 Avenue, Miami Gardens, FL 33054, Attn: Mark J. Wolf.