Obituary: John J. "Jack" Crowley Jr., 71, Former City Councilman

John Joseph “Jack” Crowley Jr., 71 of Newport, Rhode Island passed away peacefully on Friday, May 16th at Newport Hospital.  Born in Newport on March 27, 1943 he was the beloved husband of Patricia Crowley, they were married for 43 years.  He was the son of the late John and Adele (McClanahan) Crowley.

Jack attended St. Joseph’s School and graduated from De La Salle Academy in 1961.  He was employed by the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority, and was a member of the Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 618, for 30 years before retiring in 2011.  Previously Jack worked as a journeyman plumber for Donovan Bros. and Electric Boat.

Jack loved Newport and as a lifelong Democrat he was a member of the Newport Democratic City Committee and a State Committeeman.  He served as a member of the Zoning Board of Review, on the Board of Directors of the Newport County YMCA and as a Commissioner of the Newport Housing Authority.  Jack was a Newport City Council member, representing the First Ward from 1986 to 1992.

Jack was a Past Grand Knight of the Newport/Middletown Knights of Columbus Council 256.  He was also a past Faithful Navigator of the General Rosecrans Assembly of the 4th degree Knights of Columbus.

He was a loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather.  He is survived by Linda Nannini and her husband Steve of Key Largo, FL., Karen Crowley, Joanne Ferretti and her husband James and Cathleen Crowley of Middletown, R.I., and John Crowley, III and his wife Vicki of Pittsburgh, PA.

Grandfather to Lauren Case and her husband Justin, Zachary Crowley, Danielle Nannini, Ike, Oscar, and Emmett Yob, and Maren, McKenna, and John Patrick Crowley. Great-grandfather to Dillon and Abagail Case.

Jack also leaves his brother Dennis P. Crowley and was predeceased by his brother Michael F. Crowley and sister Margaret Ann Hanna.

Jack enjoyed travel, exploring his Irish heritage and collecting political and Lynchburg memorabilia.

Visiting hours will be on Tuesday, May 20, 2014 from 4-7pm at the O’Neill-Hayes Funeral Home, 465 Spring Street, Newport. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at St. Joseph Church, Broadway and Mann Avenue, Newport at 10am. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made the St. Vincent DePaul Society of St Joseph’s Church, 5 Mann Ave. Newport, R.I. 02840.