Dr. Neil Shea Crispo

"Niel Crispo was not only my best teacher and professor, but one of my longest and dearest friends. Neil had a great intellect, a deep commitment to learning, and a tremendous loving heart, and he will be sorely missed." -- Dominic M. Calabro

Dr. Neil Crispo, Senior Vice President Emeritus of Florida TaxWatch, passed away on December 21, following heart surgery.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Dr. Crispo later relocated to Florida with his family, where he graduated from Florida State University with a bachelor's and a master's degree. He later received his doctorate from the University of Southern Mississippi. He is survived by his wife Barbara, of 54 years, and his two daughters Alane Wiklund (Karl-Martin Wiklund) of Plymouth, Massachusetts, and Karen Crispo of Boca Raton, Florida. He was also a grandfather to Caroline and Emily Wiklund.

He was an incredibly devoted husband, father, and grandfather, and took incredible pride in the accomplishments of his girls and in the enduring relationship he had with Barbara.

Dr. Crispo served his country as an officer with the United States Coast Guard for fifteen years, and then dedicated his life to higher education, impacting many over the last fifty years. He was part of the original faculty of Broward Community College, and upon retiring 30 years later, he moved to Tallahassee, where he served for more than 10 years as the Senior Vice President of Research and Operations at Florida TaxWatch, and continued thereafter as Senior Vice President Emeritus. Dr. Crispo also created the Ideas in Action publication, which continues to this day.

Through his work with Florida TaxWatch, Dr Crispo helped improve the lives of countless Floridians, and through his teaching, he impacted the lives of thousands of students and their families and communities.

No one was immune from his teaching, as it was clearly not confined to the traditional parameters of a classroom. His teaching affected everyone he touched, including those of us not privy to sitting in his lectures. He was constantly pushing everyone around him to continue their studies, and had an amazing ability to hone in on people's talents and, like a true teacher, would encourage through positive reinforcement.

He was also a formidable debater, and never backed down from the opportunity to discuss issues and perspectives with fervor. Dr. Crispo helped to foster an environment where thinking and challenging and heated discussion were not only valued, but encouraged.

Bio

Dr. Crispo was a Senior Vice President Emeritus at Florida TaxWatch, he held several administrative and faculty positions in higher education during his thirty three-year career in Florida's community college and state university systems.

Having served as the Senior Vice President for Research and Operations at Florida TaxWatch Research Institute from January 1991 until November 1998. From 1999 through 2000 he assumed the position of Vice President for Research Development and additional duties at Florida State University.

He served for fifteen years as an officer in USCG both on active duty and in the active reserve attaining the rank of Lieutenant Commander and was assigned to the position of unit commander.

He had been noted as a Heritage Foundation Policy Expert.

Dr. Crispo received the Outstanding Teacher Award at the Askew School's Annual Award Ceremony in Spring 2008. A temendous teacher to all of his "students" at Florida TaxWatch and beyond, Dr. Crispo generously inspired and motivated students to succeed in all their endeavors.