Andrew Edward Crabtree Andrew is the son of Guy Wayne Crabtree.

Guy and Andrew Crabtree Contributed photo

Andrew Edward Crabtree, Henry Branch, is the son of Debbie and Guy, brother of Ashley, and grandson of the late Gurnie Patricia Stancil Crabtree.

Andrew and twin sister, Ashley, were born on Oct. 8, 1993, in Durham, NC.

They grew up in Durham and attended the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and Immaculate Catholic School. Andrew learned to read early and was reading on 4th grade level when he entered school. After the end of second grade, his teacher recommended he skip 3rd grade.

Andrew demonstrated his singing, acting, writing and swimming abilities when he was quite young. In October 2003, he wrote a poem and read it to his grandmother, Gurnie, at her 90th birthday party. His short stories and illustrations often won praise and awards. He was invited to read some of them in public performances.

When Ashley and Andrew were young, all the family would take yearly vacations to the beach. Often “Granny Pat,” as the younger grandchildren called her, would sit on the beach and enjoy watching her family play together.

Andrew loved to read and he could be found sometimes under the tent on the beach with his grandmother reading. She also delighted in listening to him sing.

Andrew was invited to join the North Carolina Boys Choir and traveled to England. He also performed at the Duke Cathedral in Durham. Andrew entered Riverside High School in 2009. He joined the swim team and excelled in theatre classes. In 2010, Andrew was selected to attend the Governor’s School West (Salem College, Winston Salem) in drama. He attended Duke University Young Writers Camp for several years.

Andrew was diagnosed with a rare form of soft tissue tumor cancer, synovial sarcoma, in January 2011. He began treatment at Duke Medical Center and continued high school classes.

Andrew was selected prom king at Riverside High and served as co-Master of Ceremonies for the Riverside Chorus Cabaret at the Broad Street Cafe in Durham. He closed the show singing, “I’m on Fire.” Andrew graduated from Riverside High School in Durham, N.C., on June 9, 2011. He was selected as a counselor for the six-week Duke University Young Writers Camp.

In the fall of 2011, he was accepted into the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, the alma mater of his mother, father and first cousin, Stephanie O’Brien.

In December 2011, Andrew traveled with his parents, Debbie and Guy, to Coswig, Germany, for a innovative laser treatment to remove lung tumors. While in Germany, Andrew reunited with Alessandria, his first au pair. She and husband David live in Northern Italy.

The day before Andrew began his second laser treatment, he and his parents attended an opera, “Dead Man Walking,” at the Semperoper House in Dresden, Germany. The opera was in English, with the German translation on the screen.

The second treatment was completed in March 2012. His lungs were tumor-free at this time. Andrew focused on re-entering college and getting on with his life. This included spending time with his cat, Cinders, a handsome Maine Coon and Ashley's dog, Dazee, an adorable dapple Dashund.

In the fall of 2012, Andrew portrayed the Man/Child in the LAB! Theatre’s adaptation of the Greek tragedy, “Eurydice." He received rave reviews from Rebecca Pollack, The Daily Tar Heel, who wrote, “Andrew Crabtree comedically steals the show. Portraying the Interesting Man/Child, Crabtree takes the stage looking deranged and continues to aptly show his character’s immaturity while wearing the most outlandish costumes of the cast.”

In May 2013, Andrew was hired by the independent theatre, Deep Dish Theater, Chapel Hill, for the part of Bartley, in "Cripple of Inishmaan," described as a delightful dark comedy.

Andrew spent Memorial Day relaxing by the pool on the Carolina coast with family.

When Andrew acted, his focus and passion created a living theatre experience for the audience. Andrew will be remembered as a gifted actor who used his ability to evoke laughter and tears as he held the audience’s emotions in his hand.

Andrew was a remarkable young man. A river of tears was left by family, friends and even strangers whom he had touched.

Andrew was wise beyond his years. His aunt, Jane Crabtree O’Brien, told Andrew she was downsizing, selling her large Wilmington home and moving into a one bedroom apartment in Cary, he responded, “It’s so refreshing when you give up all the material stuff in your life!”

Andrew’s last posting on June 9, 2013, on Facebook reflects his character and legacy, “I love you all, and I want to talk to you, because you mean so much to me, and I'll try to respond to as many of your questions as I can. Nothing but love. Andrew"

After Andrew learned his latest test results, he made the decision to be taken to the hospice facility on Thursday. It was the same facility where Gurnie was. He passed away there on June 15, 2013, surrounded by Guy, Debbie and Ashley.

Andrew Crabtree died on June 15, 2013.

Andrew will be long remembered. The Durham YMCA planted a crepe myrtle and placed a marker in the ground in Andrew's honor.

Riverside High School renamed its stage in the Glaxo Smith Kline Theatre The Andrew Crabtree Stage on Nov. 21.

Family and friends in attendance other than Guy, Debbie and Ashley were Jane O’Brien (Aunt), Stephanie O’Brien (Cousin), Cindi Crabtree (Aunt), F.C. Johnson (Godmother), family friends John and Nichole Archibald and Ross Williams.

Also, a bench dedicated to Andrew’s memory is also being placed in the quadrangle behind the Dramatic Arts building at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.

Also, a chair at the NC Stage in Asheville in memory of Andrew.

— Renn Stancil Hinton