Craig Joseph Fearnside

Craig Joseph Fearnside left us suddenly on Wednesday, June 18,2025 to be in the arms of the Lord.   He was born on Travis Air Force Base (California) on June 7,1959 to Frank Joseph and Shirley Fearnside.   He grew up in Palatka and Tallahassee, FL, graduating from North Florida Christian High School.   He attended Florida State University, where he obtained a master’s in accounting.   His career as a CPA started in Miami, FL with Peat Marwick Mitchell. Craig was an adventurer who had a great sense of humor and a quick wit. He enjoyed telling and hearing stories.   His love of adventure and travel compelled him to move abroad, where he bought a camper and traveled to England, Scotland and Germany.  While in Germany, he lived in West Berlin and worked in East Berlin as a tax preparer.

In 1988 he joined the Paris office of Price Waterhouse, where he met his future wife, Connie.   He worked with Price Waterhouse, Paris until January 1993, when he accepted a transfer to Price Waterhouse’s Stamford, CT office.  

As a child, Craig spent many happy summers in Hendersonville, NC at the Fearnside family home. In 1994, he and Connie moved to Hendersonville and started a tax and accounting practice located on Main Street.  They operated this business until August 2021, when the practice was sold.   The highlight of the few years they had together immediately after retirement was their trip to Japan in October 2024.

Craig served as President of the NC Apple Festival in 1998 and in 2002, and was a Board Member for many years.  He was responsible for bringing the first “Battlebots” competition to the Apple Festival.

He enjoyed attending the Highland Games at Grandfather Mountain, where he loved to camp and meet up with friends and family to enjoy a taste of Scotland.  He had been attending the games every July since 2017.  

Craig leaves behind his wife Connie, son Zach (wife Amy), mother Shirley; brothers Scot (wife Rebecca) and Frank, aunts Bebe Fearnside and Linda Krall, cousin Jamie Krall, nephews Corey and Mason Fearnside, niece Samantha Brawn (husband Alex) and many friends and colleagues worldwide.   

A burial service will be held on Saturday, June 21 at 12:00pm at Green Hills Cemetery, 25 New Leicester Hwy, Asheville, NC.  

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