PAUL T. CREBS 1965 – 2017.

Paul T. Crebs, 52, passed away on Nov. 14 of natural causes after entering hospice at St. Mary’s Hospital. Paul, who was born during the 1964-65 Rubella measles epidemic, is one of the longest living deaf/blind rubella survivors in history. His longevity outstripped his doctors’ expectations.

As he aged, doctors had little past research or knowledge available to treat his various rubella-related disabilities which included deafness, loss of normal sight, autism, heart anomalies, hyperactivity and various other recurring issues related to rubella virus.

As a youngster and teenager, Paul attended the Deaf/Blind Program at Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, MA, where he learned sign language and crucial personal life skills. He also received services and programming from the Delta Gamma Foundation, Central Institute for the Deaf, St. Louis ARC, and from the Helen Keller National Center (Long Island, NY).

After several other residencies, Paul settled in Richmond Heights with 24/7 care under the auspices of Life Skills, now part of Easter Seals. He fulfilled a variety of volunteer service jobs with the oversight of his main caregiver Nate Dear who assisted Paul for fourteen years until his death.

Because of the ongoing challenges of raising Paul, his mother Carol Crebs became actively involved in AADD, the Association on Aging with Developmental Disabilities. She served on its board and has organized conferences and developed a variety of programs, videos and educational materials for professionals and families that mirrored much of Paul’s circuitous journey through the medical, governmental and social service systems. She also served on the Missouri Regional Advisory Council for the developmentally disabled population.

Paul is the son of Carol Crebs of Ballwin and the late P. Terence Crebs and brother of Susan Crebs Holmes of Town & Country.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Paul’s honor to Easter Seals Midwest at 13545 Barrett Parkway Drive, Suite 300, Ballwin, MO 63021 or AADD, the Association on Aging with Developmental Disabilities, 2385 Hampton Ave., St. Louis MO 63139.

A celebration of Paul’s insatiable appetite for ice cream and a display of his artwork will be held on Sunday, Dec. 10, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Paul’s favorite hang-out Living Arts Studio, 2418 Sutton Blvd., Maplewood, St. Louis, MO 63143.

PAUL T. CREBS with his long term caregiver, NATE DEAR