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A beloved Columbia County lawyer passes away
Feb 01, 2011 9:38 am
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="125" caption="Bill Cranna, a longstanding and well-liked Columbia County attorney, passed away on January 29."]
[/caption]The Honorable William F. Cranna, a well-known Columbia County attorney and member of many local boards, passed away on January 29th 2011. His passing is being noted this week in many settings, including a front page story in the February 1 Register-Star that quotes many in local politics about Cranna's large legacy. Born in the Bronx in 1945 to the late James P. Cranna and his surviving mother, Mary Anne Cranna, Bill came to the area at the age of eight with his parents.
Continued...
He was educated and graduated from St. Mary's Academy, Siena College and Pace Law School. In the late 1960's, he was hired to taught history for the Hudson School District, where he became instrumental in creating the Alternative Learning Program. After graduating from Pace Law School, he began a long association with the law firm of Koweek, Cranna, and McEvoy and eventually held positions in the Columbia County District Attorney's Office as well as the Columbia County Attorney's Office. In 1994, Bill was appointed as Hudson City Court Judge and most recently served as Court Attorney for the Honorable Paul Czajka. He was an active member of the Hudson Area Library for many years, and also served as a board member for Historic Hudson. He was renowned for his letter writing, as well as his dreams for eventually writing a Hemingway-like "great American novel," which he never found the time to finish. He is predeceased by his son Liam and survived by his children Brendan and McCaily (Abigail Thompson), his wife Pamela Mixa-Cranna, his four brothers Donald (Melissa), Kenneth, Thomas, and Robert, in-laws, Bernice Pugliese, Patricia and Myron Cohen, Paula Rickborn and Peter and Karen Mixa, as well as nieces and nephews Amy Clark, Serenella Randolph, Bryan, Patrick, Colin and Austin Cranna, Seth Florio, Spencer Rickborn, and Kaila and Kirstyn Mixa. In lieu of flowers and other gifts, donations can be sent to the Hudson Area Library or The Community Hospice of Columbia/Greene. A memorial service will take place at the St. Mary's School Saturday, February 5th at 2 pm.
[/caption]The Honorable William F. Cranna, a well-known Columbia County attorney and member of many local boards, passed away on January 29th 2011. His passing is being noted this week in many settings, including a front page story in the February 1 Register-Star that quotes many in local politics about Cranna's large legacy. Born in the Bronx in 1945 to the late James P. Cranna and his surviving mother, Mary Anne Cranna, Bill came to the area at the age of eight with his parents.Continued...
He was educated and graduated from St. Mary's Academy, Siena College and Pace Law School. In the late 1960's, he was hired to taught history for the Hudson School District, where he became instrumental in creating the Alternative Learning Program. After graduating from Pace Law School, he began a long association with the law firm of Koweek, Cranna, and McEvoy and eventually held positions in the Columbia County District Attorney's Office as well as the Columbia County Attorney's Office. In 1994, Bill was appointed as Hudson City Court Judge and most recently served as Court Attorney for the Honorable Paul Czajka. He was an active member of the Hudson Area Library for many years, and also served as a board member for Historic Hudson. He was renowned for his letter writing, as well as his dreams for eventually writing a Hemingway-like "great American novel," which he never found the time to finish. He is predeceased by his son Liam and survived by his children Brendan and McCaily (Abigail Thompson), his wife Pamela Mixa-Cranna, his four brothers Donald (Melissa), Kenneth, Thomas, and Robert, in-laws, Bernice Pugliese, Patricia and Myron Cohen, Paula Rickborn and Peter and Karen Mixa, as well as nieces and nephews Amy Clark, Serenella Randolph, Bryan, Patrick, Colin and Austin Cranna, Seth Florio, Spencer Rickborn, and Kaila and Kirstyn Mixa. In lieu of flowers and other gifts, donations can be sent to the Hudson Area Library or The Community Hospice of Columbia/Greene. A memorial service will take place at the St. Mary's School Saturday, February 5th at 2 pm.