William E. Crowe

It is with great sadness that Rosie, Sandy, Mary and Janet announce the passing of William Earl Crowe, Friday, March 14, 2014. Survived by his wife of 55 years, Roseanna "Rosie" Crowe; daughter Sandy Ratke, her husband John and their sons Johnny and Billy; daughter Mary Crowe-Kokonis, her husband Peter, and her children Kristen, Dimitri, and James Crowe, his wife Rosemary and their son Jacob Edward; daughter Janet Alessandrini, her husband David, and their children Melissa, Chrissy and Anthony. He is also survived by his sister Cynthia Colgan of Ocala, Florida and his Brother-in-Law Nick and wife Cindy of Palatka, Florida, their four children Wendy Anderson, Nicholas Eckhardt, David Eckhardt, Deborah Eckhardt, and many grand nieces and nephews. Bill came into the world on December 24, 1940 in Frostburg, Maryland. Born to Ralph Frederick Crowe and Lillian Agnes Isner, he grew up in the Eckert Mines and Frostburg areas of western Maryland. When Bill was entering junior high school his father moved the family to Silver Spring to take work at the University of Maryland, College Park. While in school at Eastern Junior High he met Roseanna Eckhardt and they started dating when they were twelve. While in high school at Montgomery Blair in Silver Spring and Northwestern High School in Adelphi, Maryland he worked on many theatrical plays as a stage hand. This love of working with his hands continued throughout his life. On his 18th birthday, December 24, 1958, he married his junior high and high school sweetheart Rosie at the Silver Spring Presbyterian Church. They honeymooned in Florida and came home to Riverdale, Maryland where they proceeded to have three daughters, all before they turned 25. Bill and Rosie always said it was the best way to have kids - they all five grew up together. The family then moved to New Carrollton where they lived for 36 years; Sandy still lives in the family home. While there, Bill became very active with the New Carrollton Men's Club including Co-Chairing the Corn Boil, the annual fund-raising event, in 1980. He worked at the University of Maryland, College Park in many different positions throughout the years. Beginning his career at 17, he started in the Paint Shop, working his way up to Research Assistant where he continued to utilize his love of all power tools. He and Rosie also ran a part-time air conditioning/refrigeration business that continued for many years. As the girls grew up they moved into different activities. When active in Girl Scouts, Rosie became a troop leader and needed someone with first aid skills to go on camping trips. In stepped Bill to take his first aid training, becoming a card carrying Girl Scout, and going on numerous campouts where the whole family attended. From this first step of becoming a first aider for his wife's troop, he moved into becoming active with the American Red Cross as a first aid instructor and chairing the Mass Care Committee as a Disaster Action Team leader. He trained several people to become shelter managers in times of major disasters. Bill was also active with the American Heart Association as a CPR instructor, and then obtained his Emergency Medical Technician certification and rode with the West Lanham Hills Rescue Squad for three years. In 1982, Bill saved the life of his neighbor and received a Certificate of Merit which is the highest award given by the American Red Cross to a person who saves or sustains a life. This was signed by the President of the United States, Ronald Reagan, as the Honorary Chairman of the American Red Cross, and Jerome Holland, Chairman of the American Red Cross. Bill also received Certificates/Proclamations from the United States Senate, Resolution of the Senate of Maryland, Proclamation of the County Council of Prince George's County, MD, a Certificate of Commendation from the Mayor and City Council of the City of New Carrollton, MD, and personal letters from Congressman Steny Hoyer, and Thomas Patrick O'Reilly, MD State Senator. Rosie relates that Bill was too modest about these honors and would not allow her to hang the plaques or certificates. They will now be hung proudly! Throughout his life he had a love for all things outdoors. An avid hunter and fisherman, he grew up hunting with his father and uncles in western Maryland. He was fortunate enough to go on a dream hunting trip to Canada with his father, Ralph, in the early 1970's and brought home an entire Moose leg that his daughter Janet then took to school for show-and-tell. [Heaven only knows what the teachers thought of our family when show-and-tell time came around. We brought in real rabbit's feet, squirrel tails, and moose legs!!] Education was always important to Bill. While working full time, loving his wife, and raising his girls, he continued to take classes and finally achieved his dream of receiving an Associate's Degree in 1976 from the University of Maryland, University College. One of Rosie's fondest memories is of Bill sitting at the dining room table in the early years studying for one of his classes holding a daughter in his arm to help her out. Bill was brought to the Masons by his father, joining Seat Pleasant Lodge (now Patuxent Lodge) #218 as a Master Mason in 1967. Bill was also a 32nd degree Mason since 2011, through the A&A Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Valley of Baltimore. Bill exemplified the tenets and beliefs of Freemasonry, always being willing to help anyone wherever he could do so. In 1997 Bill and Rosie became proud life members of the American Association for Nude Recreation. Bill also held memberships in the Annapolis Elks Lodge #622 since 2005 and the Annapolis Lodge #296 of the Loyal Order of Moose since 2007. Bill became a life member of the National Rifle Association of America in 2009. As a new employee at the University of Maryland in July of 1958, Bill joined the Maryland Classified Employees Association, a labor union in the State of Maryland. Through the many years of his membership he was extremely active in many positions in his local Chapter 21, attending all the Area III meetings, serving on many statewide committees, and attending the Annual Convention in Ocean City, MD with Rosie and then later his girls when they went to work at the University. He received many awards through the years including Area 3 member of the year and a plaque for 40 years service to his Chapter and MCEA. As many of our family and friends already know, Bill suffered for many years from a disease called Inclusion Body Myositis. It was causing all of his muscles to atrophy. This disease is very rare and has no known cause or cure. In lieu of flowers, please send any contributions to The Myositis Association, 1737 King Street, Suite 600, Alexandria, VA 22314. If you would like further information about this terrible disease, please see the website, www.myositis.org Thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers. While it's never easy, and we're still in a state of disbelief and shock, it's helpful to know that we have friends and family who are there for us.