Tom Crowe was passionate about living. He loved his family, friends, alma mater, his childhood summer camp and new adventures of any kind. He passed away peacefully on February 14, 2017.
Born in Rome, NY in 1935, he attended high school in Westfield, NJ and college at Purdue University where he earned degrees in electrical engineering and business. His first job at Allen Bradley took him to Milwaukee where he met his wife Carol Rowan at a wedding of mutual friends. They married in 1960, had five children and lived in many American cities during their 56 years of marriage, including: Sheboygan, WI, Evergreen, CO, Wellesley, MA, Moraga, CA, Elkhart Lake, WI, Bonita Springs, FL and Canton, GA.
Tom sought intellectual stimulation all his life, starting his professional journey as an engineer, then working for many years as a sales and marketing executive and finishing his career in consulting. Family dinners were often accompanied by spirited discussions about politics, culture and current events. In retirement, Tom facilitated seminars at Hodges University in Naples, FL and was President of Friends of Barefoot Beach, an organization dedicated to coastal ecosystem preservation. In recent years, he delighted in performing with the Soliel Singers and engaging in spiritual discussion with the Men's Christian Fellowship in Canton.
A dedicated family man, Tom relished time swimming, golfing, snow skiing and watching football with his children and grandchildren. He travelled extensively during his life, visiting six continents and keeping a world map on the wall in his office dense with red pins for places he had been and blue pins for places he wanted to go. Toward the end of his life, he said that his favorite places were Elkhart Lake, WI where he and Carol spent many summers among friends and family, Camp Dudley on Lake Champlain, a boys' summer camp he attended as a child, and Purdue University. He was a dedicated Boilermaker, often playing and singing along to Purdue Varsity Glee Club recordings.
He is survived by his wife, Carol, his children: Susan (Robert Whitcomb), Mary Beth (Walter Simon), Brian (Alison), Stephen, and Tommy (Laura) as well as his sister, Mary Linn Hoffmann and seven grandchildren: Caroline, Daniel, Sean, Matteo, Colin, Gavin, and Camdyn.
Friends may call at Our Lady of La Salette Catholic Church from 11am until the time of the memorial mass at 1pm on Monday, February 27: 2941 Sam Nelson Rd, Canton, GA. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to: Camp Dudley Annual Fund, 126 Dudley Road, Westport NY, 12993.
The caring staff of Darby Funeral Home is in charge of these arrangements.