Bob Crowley Passes Away

Robert C. Crowley, 90, formerly of Reading and Shrewsbury, N.J., died peacefully on Dec. 4, at his home in Tinton Falls, N.J.

Bob was born in Melrose in 1928 to the late Joseph and Helen Crowley. Shortly after graduating from Melrose High School in 1945, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Japan. After his honorable discharge in 1948, Bob returned to the Boston area where he began his 45-year career in the accounting profession.

Bob earned his accounting degree from Bentley College in 1954 and entered public accounting when he joined the Wakefield firm of John A. Confalone & Co. He earned his CPA in 1956 and spent the rest of his career with John A. Confalone & Co., which he acquired when its founder retired. Bob was incredibly dedicated to his clients, many of whom he worked with for more than 30 years, providing trusted counsel on both accounting and business matters.

Bob married the love of his life, Mary Confalone, in 1955, and they were married 62 years until her passing in 2017. They lived in Reading until 2004 when they moved to New Jersey to be closer to their only daughter, Jane. Bob’s two favorite pastimes were vacationing on Nantucket Island in the summer and watching his beloved Boston Red Sox. A diehard fan, he proudly wore his Red Sox hat after moving to New Jersey and endured many comments from local New York Yankee fans. Bob was one of the kindest and gentlest people you could ever meet, and anyone who knew him couldn’t help but like him immediately.

Bob is survived by his sister Joan Dobias of Swampscott, Mass., his daughter Jane Quirk and son-in-law Bill of Rumson, N.J., his grandchildren Sarah Quirk of New York, N.Y. and Bill Quirk of New Haven, Ct., and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, his sister Helen McKeon, and his brothers Edward and Joseph.

Visitation will be held at the Douglass, Edgerley & Bessom Funeral Home, 25 Sanborn St., (corner of Woburn St.) Reading, MA on Sunday, Dec. 9th from 2-5 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, Dec. 10th at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Church, 173 Albion St., Wakefield, Mass. followed by interment at Forest Glade Cemetery in Wakefield, Mass. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org).