Dr. Stephen Cluskey Cromwell, 90, of Rockville

Stephen Cluskey Cromwell, 90, passed away peacefully at his home on May 31, 2015.

A lifelong resident of Rockville, he graduated from St. Albans School, Washington, D.C., and joined the Navy to serve his country during WWII, where he fought in both the European and Pacific theaters. As a Pharmacist Mate First Class he went in on the first wave of Omaha Beach in the battle of Normandy, tending to hundreds of wounded that day. He later served on the USS Missouri in the China Seas, Iwo Jima and Okinawa campaigns. At the Japanese surrender in 1945 he raised the first American flag on Japanese soil. He would love to show visitors his World War II Victory Medal, his Medal of Honor from the National Society of the Daughters of American Revolution and his Medal of the Jubilee of Liberty from the Regional Council of Normandy, France.

After the war he attended the University of Virginia. He then went on to get his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He returned home to Rockville where he served his community with his general medical practice for 45 years. In 1996 he was recognized as “Physician of the Year” by the Montgomery County Medical Society and acknowledged by the Maryland House of Delegates.

He was an active Rotarian with more than 60 years of perfect attendance, serving as President and other leadership positions during that time.

Since childhood he had attended Christ Episcopal Church in Rockville, starting as an altar boy, then serving as a head of the Lay Eucharistic Ministers, Senior Warden and other vestry positions. He was also chairman of the Board of Governors for Christ Episcopal School and the president of the trustees for Rockville Academy.

After retirement he took on the restoration of the Rockville Cemetery and as Association President was responsible for the revitalization of that property.

Many a child shared their Christmas wish lists with him over the more than 20 years he played Santa Claus at the annual Children’s Christmas Party for Manor Country Club. Many other children in the community came to know him as “Dr. Stonestreet,” the character he often portrayed for the Montgomery County Historical Society. He served on that board of trustees for more than 20 years.

As dedicated as he was to his community, Steve’s real love was his family. He and his wife of 45 years Helen Bentley Cromwell raised five daughters: Phyllis, Margaret (Peggy), Noel, Jane and Nancy. He was a devoted family man who loved spending time with his sister, his brother, his niece and nephews, and especially his wife, daughters and five grandchildren.

He is survived by his sister, Phyllis Elaine Cromwell, his daughters Margaret Greene (Brian), Noel Tyra (Neil), and Jane Shelhorse (Jim) and his grandchildren Blair Colsey, Patrick Greene, Bernadette Tyra, Clark Tyra and John Simmons.

The family will receive friends and neighbors at the Pumphrey Funeral Home, 300 W. Montgomery Ave. in Rockville, from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, June 12. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 13, at Christ Episcopal Church 107 S. Washington Street in Rockville.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that contributions in memory of Steve go to the Rockville Cemetery Association P.O. Box 4318 Rockville, MD 20849, or Christ Episcopal Church.

— Information from the Robert A. Pumphrey Funeral Homes website.