Obituary for Captain Irwin "Dan" Crowley, Jr.
Captain Irwin Daniel “Dan”, Crowley, Jr, CEC, USN, Retired, passed away on December 19, 2017. He was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi on March 26, 1931 to Louise (Wilson) Crowley and Irwin Daniel Crowley, Sr.
Dan is survived by Althea Baker of Providence, his wife, daughters Susan Allison Fontaine, her husband Ronald of Johnston, RI, and Judith Lynne Crowley of Cranston, RI; granddaughter Allison Boardman Baker and her husband Joseph Muccio; great granddaughters Victoria Allison and Elizabeth Susan Muccio of Johnston, RI; and grandson Robert Andrew Fontaine and his wife Lindsey Fontaine of Burrillville, RI.
After graduating from Mississippi State University he had a distinguished career in the Civil Engineer Corps in the Navy from 1953 through 1980. His duty assignments included a broad spectrum of military engineering functions at naval bases in the US and overseas. Fortunately he was supported by his beautiful wife and daughters who accompanied him on assignments in the Marshall Islands, the Philippines, Italy and Japan.
In 1959-60 he was assigned to a graduate study program, earning a masters degree in Structural Dynamics from the University of Illinois. This was followed by a number of research and teaching assignments dealing with the effects of nuclear weapons and protective structures technology. He was a project officer in the Defense Nuclear agency in the Pentagon managing research and testing programs including nuclear field tests in Nevada.
Service in Vietnam was followed by Duty at the Naval War College managing the planning of new academic facilities. He completed the course at NATO Defense College in Rome and served in Allied Forces Southern Europe overseeing construction projects in Greece and Turkey.
Later he served as Commanding Officer of the Navy’s Public Works Center in Yokosuka, Japan, the organization operating all utility systems, providing construction and transportation services for a major base supporting elements of the Seventh Fleet in the Western Pacific. Concurrently he was the Navy’s Officer in Charge of Construction Far East providing construction support to Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force bases throughout Japan including Okinawa. While in this position he negotiated with the Japanese Ministry of Defense to relocate naval base facilities from Yokohama to Yokosuka – a project equivalent to moving a town with the population of 10,000. In his final assignment he served as Commanding Officer of the Southern Division, Naval Facilities Engineering Command responsible for construction at Navy, Marine Corps, and six Air Force bases in a twelve state region from North Carolina through New Mexico.
His decorations included the Bronze Star with Combat V for his service in Vietnam.
Following his service he worked on a number of major construction projects overseas and in New England. He managed construction of a heart surgery complex for a large hospital in Maine and research facilities at the Yale University of Medicine. From 1993 through 2001 he was project manager for the Rhode Island Airport Corporation overseeing construction at T. F. Green Airport which was completed ahead of schedule and underbudget.
The funeral service will be Saturday at 11 am in Saint Martin’s Church, Orchard Avenue in Providence. Burial will follow in Swan Point Cemetery. Calling hours will be Friday from 5 -7 pm in the Monahan, Drabble & Sherman Funeral Home, 230 Waterman Street Providence. Donation in his memory may be made to St. Martin’s Church, 50 Orchard Ave., Providence, RI 02906
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Dan is survived by Althea Baker of Providence, his wife, daughters Susan Allison Fontaine, her husband Ronald of Johnston, RI, and Judith Lynne Crowley of Cranston, RI; granddaughter Allison Boardman Baker and her husband Joseph Muccio; great granddaughters Victoria Allison and Elizabeth Susan Muccio of Johnston, RI; and grandson Robert Andrew Fontaine and his wife Lindsey Fontaine of Burrillville, RI.
After graduating from Mississippi State University he had a distinguished career in the Civil Engineer Corps in the Navy from 1953 through 1980. His duty assignments included a broad spectrum of military engineering functions at naval bases in the US and overseas. Fortunately he was supported by his beautiful wife and daughters who accompanied him on assignments in the Marshall Islands, the Philippines, Italy and Japan.
In 1959-60 he was assigned to a graduate study program, earning a masters degree in Structural Dynamics from the University of Illinois. This was followed by a number of research and teaching assignments dealing with the effects of nuclear weapons and protective structures technology. He was a project officer in the Defense Nuclear agency in the Pentagon managing research and testing programs including nuclear field tests in Nevada.
Service in Vietnam was followed by Duty at the Naval War College managing the planning of new academic facilities. He completed the course at NATO Defense College in Rome and served in Allied Forces Southern Europe overseeing construction projects in Greece and Turkey.
Later he served as Commanding Officer of the Navy’s Public Works Center in Yokosuka, Japan, the organization operating all utility systems, providing construction and transportation services for a major base supporting elements of the Seventh Fleet in the Western Pacific. Concurrently he was the Navy’s Officer in Charge of Construction Far East providing construction support to Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force bases throughout Japan including Okinawa. While in this position he negotiated with the Japanese Ministry of Defense to relocate naval base facilities from Yokohama to Yokosuka – a project equivalent to moving a town with the population of 10,000. In his final assignment he served as Commanding Officer of the Southern Division, Naval Facilities Engineering Command responsible for construction at Navy, Marine Corps, and six Air Force bases in a twelve state region from North Carolina through New Mexico.
His decorations included the Bronze Star with Combat V for his service in Vietnam.
Following his service he worked on a number of major construction projects overseas and in New England. He managed construction of a heart surgery complex for a large hospital in Maine and research facilities at the Yale University of Medicine. From 1993 through 2001 he was project manager for the Rhode Island Airport Corporation overseeing construction at T. F. Green Airport which was completed ahead of schedule and underbudget.
The funeral service will be Saturday at 11 am in Saint Martin’s Church, Orchard Avenue in Providence. Burial will follow in Swan Point Cemetery. Calling hours will be Friday from 5 -7 pm in the Monahan, Drabble & Sherman Funeral Home, 230 Waterman Street Providence. Donation in his memory may be made to St. Martin’s Church, 50 Orchard Ave., Providence, RI 02906
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