David Craig Shares Dementia Diagnosis

HAVRE DE GRACE, MD — The former mayor of Havre de Grace for whom a park on Union Avenue is named has been diagnosed with dementia. David Craig went public with his condition Monday through an op-ed in The Aegis, writing that he wanted to raise awareness about Alzheimer's and call for more research funding.

Alzheimer's is a degenerative brain disease that Craig said took the lives of his parents and brother.

"In many ways, it took them twice — first their spirit, and then their physical presence," Craig wrote.

One of the symptoms of Alzheimer's is memory loss, and the disease is the sixth leading cause of death in America, according to the National Institute on Aging.

"Over the past year, my family and I have come to the realization that a form of this affliction has turned its gaze on me," Craig wrote.

Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer's, but there are medications to treat the symptoms.

"For every dollar the federal government spends today on the costs of Alzheimer's care, it invests less than a penny in research to find a cure," Craig wrote. "We simply must do better."

He said his aim in sharing his diagnosis was to continue to serve the public, and other leaders lauded him for doing so.

"His personal courage and concern for others are an inspiration," County Executive Barry Glassman said in a statement. "Having recently lost a family member to this devastating condition, I will be working to raise funds for respite care for affected families. We also want David and his family to know that Harford County will keep them in our prayers."

Said Glassman: "After devoting his career to public service, David Craig continues to serve the citizens of Harford County and Maryland by raising awareness about dementia."

Most recently, Craig served as the secretary of planning for the state of Maryland from 2015 to 2016.

"I ask Marylanders to join me in praying for my longtime friend David Craig, who today announced that he has been diagnosed with dementia," Gov. Larry Hogan said Monday in a statement.

"David has been a lifelong public servant on behalf of Harford County and the State of Maryland at every level of government, including as Mayor of Havre de Grace, a member of the Maryland House of Delegates and Senate, and Harford County Executive," Hogan said. "He served our administration admirably as Secretary of Planning and Executive Director of the Maryland World War I Centennial Commission. We wish him and his family all the best in the days ahead."

Craig was the county executive from 2005 to 2014 in Harford County.

Before that, he was mayor of Havre de Grace from 1985 to 1989 and 2001 to 2005. For more than 30 years, he was an educator and administrator in Harford County Public Schools. Currently he lives with his wife in Havre de Grace.