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.