Atlas Network joins the worldwide freedom movement in mourning the passing of Ed Crane — a principled leader, an institution-builder, and a generous champion of liberty. His life’s work helped shape the modern movement for individual freedom, limited government, and free markets, and his legacy will endure in the institutions and individuals he inspired.
As a co-founder and longtime president of the Cato Institute, Ed played a defining role in establishing a powerful and independent voice for the ideas of liberty in the United States and beyond. At a time when the intellectual climate often ran against the principles he defended, Ed had the courage and the clarity to build something lasting. He understood that ideas require institutions — credible, independent organizations committed to research, persuasion, and principled engagement — if they are to influence public policy and the broader culture.
A charismatic speaker, eloquent writer, and visionary leader, Ed played a greater role than perhaps any other in building a base of financial supporters who have prioritized the ideas of liberty. His involvement in the Presidential campaign of Libertarian Party candidate Ed Clark in 1980 allowed Ed Crane to develop a national network of generous friends of liberty, whose enthusiasm would go on to power the Cato Institute's ascension to a top tier think tank in American life.
Ed’s vision extended far beyond any single organization. He believed deeply in a vibrant ecosystem of institutions advancing liberty from different angles, in different countries, and with distinct but complementary approaches. In that spirit, he was a valued friend and supporter of Atlas Network. His generosity toward our work manifested itself most dramatically when he helped arrange a transfer of programs and personnel, led by Tom Palmer, and funding to support them, in late 2008, to jumpstart Atlas Network's evolution into a truly global enterprise.
Ed's wife Kristina Crane began a long association with Atlas Network at this time, and our team has continued to benefit from her steadfast commitment to advancing liberty worldwide. Kristina's dedication has reflected the same belief that animated Ed’s life: that the principles of liberty are universal and that they must be nurtured through strong, independent institutions that resist political fashions and partisan pressures.
The freedom movement is, at its core, a community of individuals who devote their lives to expanding opportunity and preserving the dignity of the human person. Ed Crane was among the most influential of his generation. The institutions he built, the leaders he mentored, and the ideas he championed will continue to shape debates for decades to come.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to Kristina and their children and grandchildren and to all who were close to Ed. As we reflect on his life and legacy, we are reminded of our shared responsibility to carry forward the work he did so much to advance — strengthening independent institutions, defending the principles of a free society, and ensuring that the ideas of liberty remain alive and available for the challenges ahead.
