Remembering the Life of Charles Paul Crowley, Jr.

Charles Paul Crowley, Jr. 
Jan. 12, 1928 – Dec. 10, 2012

Charles Paul Crowley, Jr. was a civic leader, engineer, and lifelong resident of the San Gabriel Valley. He was born in Long Beach, Calif. to Charles P. Crowley, Sr. of Springfield, MA and Agnes (Leary) Crowley of Lexington, Mass. Crowley grew up in the cities of San Gabriel and Alhambra, attending St. Therese School in Alhambra and graduated from South Pasadena-San Marino High School in 1945, playing tennis and football. He was an Eagle Scout in Troop 15 in Alhambra.

Crowley graduated in 1949 from the University of Arizona in Tucson with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. He was a member of the US Army ROTC and the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity.

Crowley served in the U.S. Army in Ft. Belvoir, Va. from 1950-52. He married the Marie Kreuper of Alhambra in 1951 and moved to San Marino in 1961.

Professionally, Crowley was president of the Charles P. Crowley Company in Irwindale (formerly City of Commerce), Calif. from 1962-1995. The company continues today in its 81st year as a manufacturers’ representative for engineered equipment for the water, wastewater, petrochemical and power industries. He was a professional engineer and a life member of several trade organizations.

Serving the City of San Marino

Crowley's involvement with the City of San Marino began in 1946 when began working as a teenager at Lacy Park. Informally known as Mr. San Marino, he served on the city's planning commission for two terms, on the San Marino City Council for three terms, and served as mayor  from 1988-89. He also served as the city's representative to the Sanitation Districts of L.A. County. His role in the preservation of the historic Thurnher House in Lacy Park was one of his proudest achievements. The 2013 San Marino centennial book is dedicated to his memory.

Crowley also served as president of the Rotary Club of San Marino, the San Marino City Club, the San Marino Historical Society, the San Marino Tennis Club, San Marino Little League, and San Marino Saints Jr. All-American Football. He was a Trustee at Southwestern Academy, an Asst. Scoutmaster of San Marino Troop 355, a board member of San Marino Girl Scouts, a parishioner of Sts. Felicitas & Perpetua Catholic Church, and a member of the Valley and San Gabriel Country Clubs.

A lifelong lover of high school football, Crowley was the football game announcer at San Marino High School from 1975-2006. He was president of the SMHS Football Boosters Club and attended every San Marino-South Pasadena HS rivalry football game from 1955-2012, a streak of 58 games. The trophy for the game was renamed the Crowley Cup in 2010.

. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Marie, son Jon and daughter-in-law Carolyn (Wagner) Crowley, grandsons Charles Paul (Chip) Crowley III and Patrick Leahy Crowley, and granddaughter Kelly Claire Crowley. He is preceded in death by his daughter, Claire Marie Crowley, in 1979.

Private Funeral and Community Memorial Service Plans

A private funeral mass will be held with burial in Avalon, CA.

A salute to his life will be held on Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013 at 2 p.m. at Southwestern Academy, 2800 Monterey Rd. in San Marino. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Claire Crowley Memorial Art Fund at San Marino High School, 750 Winston Ave., San Marino, CA 91108.

Editor's Note: This obituary was provided to San Marino Patch by the family of Charles Paul Crowley, Jr.