Obituaries

Obituary: Edward W. Crowley, 83, Former Alderman

Obituary from the Lynch-Cantillon Funeral Home:

Edward W. Crowley, a long-time resident of Woburn, died peacefully Thursday after a brief illness, surrounded by his family. He was 83. He was the beloved husband of Emily Forshay Crowley.

A few years after moving to Woburn in 1962 from his native Somerville, he was elected to the city’s Board of Aldermen and served two terms. Among his proudest accomplishments as an alderman was his work to establish a sailing program on Horn Pond and building Ryan Field on Russell Street.

Mr. Crowley worked for many years as a teacher and guidance counselor in the middle schools in Somerville, including the Western Junior High School and the Powderhouse Community School. After retirement, he began a second career as a real estate agent. He continued to go to the office until the onset of his final illness.

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A graduate of Boston College High School, he stayed in touch with his classmates, enjoying lunch with them several times a year. After B.C. High, he earned a degree from Boston College, and later a master’s degree in education from Boston State College. He served two years in the United States Marines, remaining stateside during the Korean War. Mr. Crowley also served in the Air National Guard, which took him out of New England for the first time.

Mr. Crowley’s Catholic faith was central to his life, and he attended Mass almost every day. For years, he volunteered as a catechism teacher St. Barbara’s Church. His regular life was devoted to his family, and his grandchildren provided him with endless entertainment.

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In addition to his beloved wife, Emily Forshay Crowley, he is survived his son Edward of Kingston, New York; his son Thomas of Brighton, partner of Luciano Aimar; and his step-daughter Kelley Cutone of Woburn, fiancé of Thomas Clair. He was Grampy to Marissa, Michael and Marc Cutone and had many nieces and nephews who he loved dearly. He was the brother of the late J. Walter, William, Francis and Margaret Crowley, and Winifred C. Fitzgerald and the son of the late Dr. J. Walter and Winifred (Crotty) Crowley.

Funeral from the Lynch-Cantillon Funeral Home, 263 Main Street, Woburn on Wednesday, April 2 at 9:15 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Barbara’s Church, 138 Cambridge Road, Woburn at 10 a.m. Interment in Woodbrook Cemetery, Woburn. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to call at the Funeral Home on Tuesday from 4 to 8 p.m. 

At the family's request, in lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made in Ed’s memory to the St. Barbara’s Church Children’s Religious Education Program, 138 Cambridge Road, Woburn, MA 01801 or to "MGH" at The MGH Down Syndrome Program In Memory Of Edward Crowley, c/o MGH Development Office, 100 Cambridge Street, Suite 1310, Boston, MA 02114 or online at giving.massgeneral.org (select "other - MGH Down Syndrome Program").


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