Carol Crawford Erlbaum, a beloved wife, mother and grandmother, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Sept. 17, 2025. 

A celebrated artist, Carol's work has been recognized by numerous grants and awards and has been shown in solo and group exhibitions in galleries and museums in the U.S., Canada, Japan and Europe.

Carol met her husband, Judge William M. Erlbaum, in New York City and they married in Burlington, Vermont, in 1971. A devoted mother, she and her husband raised four children while living in their home in Forest Hills.

Born in Buffalo, New York, she received a B.F.A. in painting from the University of Buffalo, and a Master's degree in art history from Columbia University with a specialty in African sculpture.

She earned a second Master's degree in interior design from Pratt Institute and became LEED certified in 1995. She was a longtime member of the faculty at Pratt, teaching classes emphasizing sustainable design.

Carol continued her post-graduate work in lithography at Pratt Graphics Art Center and the Bob Blackburn Studios in Manhattan. She then set up a printmaking studio in the San Francisco Bay Area, taught lithography at Stanford University and art history and design at Foothill College.

Carol has been the principal designer in her own firm, Carol Crawford Environments, Inc., since 1997 and was a certified New York State Interior Designer. She has been a member of the Atlantic Gallery in Chelsea since 2008, and planned another art exhibition there in 2026.  

She was the president of Long Island City Artists and received the organization's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019.

Carol loved to read, garden and vacation in Maine. She was passionately engaged in politics and enjoyed starting her day with Pod Save America and finishing it by watching Rachel Maddow.

But above all, she was happiest when surrounded by her children and grandchildren.

In addition to her husband, Carol is survived by her sister, Patsy Berg, her four children, Jesse Erlbaum, Caitlin Winnicki, David Erlbaum and Julia Erlbaum, sons-in-law, Hank Winnicki and Ernie Baske, daughters-in-law Casey Martinez and Melanie Erlbaum and her six grandchildren, Helene Erlbaum, Jack Erlbaum, Vaughan Winnicki, Sydney Erlbaum, Maya Erlbaum and Madeline Baske.

The family is holding a private celebration of her life in the fall. Donations can be made in her name to Atlantic Gallery, Queens Botanical Gardens or PBS.