Ingrid Croce Anyone who lives in San Diego knows her name, but to actually meet her and sit down and talk is truly a privilege. Being the widow of music legend Jim Croce, many gravitate to her wanting to hear more about Jim and their idyllic life together before his tragic passing in 1973. Their life was just beginning, and at the age of
10
30, Jim left behind a beautiful wife and his pride and joy, his baby boy AJ who was barely two. Ingrid Croce is petite and beautiful with a spirit and business acumen to rival any Wall Street titan. She is what used to be called spunky. When she walks into a room it is suddenly afire with passion and energy. How, one might ask, has this woman come
By Judith A. Habert
through some of life’s most devastating events with such enduring positive energy and class? Ingrid, the daughter of a divorced couple, was a twin. She and her sister Phyllis were probably as close as two sisters could possibly be, though almost opposite in every aspect of their personalities. Ingrid joined every sport and activity in school (even though she had to deal with being moved from Dad to Mom and back again). She was outgoing and always had a large collection of friends. Phyllis was more reserved and chose to keep more to herself, but often shared friends with Ingrid, which pleased Ingrid. It meant that they could spend a lot of time together. Ingrid first set eyes on Jim Croce when she was only 16 years old and stuck in a snow drift. She was on her way to an audition at a local radio station in hopes of earning a spot as a participant in a huge hootenanny, which was part of the biggest contest festival of the year in Philadelphia: Ingrid, accompanied by five young cadets, whom she had joined forces with as the lead singer in their band, the Rum Runner, had their car stuck in a snow drift. Jim drove by and spotted this slim little lady with hazel eyes trying her best to free the car. She gazed over at him, was taken with his kind,sad, brown eyes and curly brown hair and gave him a wave. He smiled admiringly at her just as the car made its way out of the snow. A short time later they would come face to face when she found out he was the judge at the radio station. They won the coveted spot and went on to perform at the festival.