Obituary of Jerome "Jerry" Francis Crowley

Jerome ("Jerry") Francis Crowley, Owner of Crowley & Sons Electric, passed away on Sunday, January 29, at 87. Jerry was born in Jamaica Plain and raised in Somerville, MA. He graduated from Somerville High School in 1957, where he met his true love, Dorothy Cobino. He and Dorothy continued dating after graduation and throughout his enlistment in the United States Army, which began in 1957. Jerry served as a maintenance clerk at the US Army Armor Center, Fort Knox, Kentucky, until 1959. During his two-year commitment, Jerry earned the prestigious title of US Army Expert Marksman, the only member of his Company to receive the honor.

After his service, Jerry obtained his electrician's license and learned his trade working for established local companies. He eventually ventured out on his own and built his own business; during this exciting career growth, he and Dorothy started a family. Soon after, they moved to their dream home in the suburbs of Burlington, where he raised his four children. Aside from working and being a devoted father and husband, Jerry had many hobbies and passions, including building and flying Radio Control model airplanes. On most weekends, you could find him at one of three clubs he was a long-standing member of, Burlington RC Flyers, Billerica's Middlesex County RC, and Tewksbury's 495^th. His youthful eyes up, he could be seen watching one of his warbirds circling overhead. His passion for flying didn't end with model planes—he trained for his pilot's license in his late 40s, and after obtaining his license, he purchased a Cessna 140 propeller plane. Jerry later earned his Instrument Rating. This designation is awarded to a pilot who passed an intensive training course focused on flying solely on instruments as a reference. Jerry kept his plane primarily at Tew-Mac airport, where his sons would join him on flights all over New England. He even made a few challenging solo trips to Florida.

Another of Jerry's passions was showing his champion Irish Wolf Hound, Kelley, at regional dog shows. Kelley received numerous ribbons at American Kennel Club-sponsored shows in the early to mid-1970s. Jerry had other dogs that he raised and enjoyed through the years, such as the late, Spotty, Sandy, Clancy, Lola, and his surviving dog Lucky (who is being tenderly cared for by his son Brian who shares his love for dogs).

Jerry's greatest love in life was being a grandfather. He was “Grampy” to his five beloved grandchildren, who he cherished dearly. He loved spending time with them, enjoying everything from bingo to flying wind-up airplanes off his back deck. He loved to listen to their stories and tell them his own, like the adventurous summers he spent in the 1940s in New York City as a child.

He and Dorothy had a wonderful life together before Dorothy's passing in 2020. They would have weekly dinner dates, mostly to Grassfields in Andover, their favorite restaurant where they were known by name. They also enjoyed vacationing in Maine, mostly at York Beach and Wells. 

Jerry was the beloved husband of the Late Dorothy Crowley, with whom he shared 60 years of marriage. He was the loving father of Jerome Crowley, Jr. & his wife Suzanne of Andover, Brian Crowley & his wife Maria of Wilmington, Scott Crowley & his wife Sharon of Tewksbury, and the late Jacqueline Zinnershine & her husband Bob Zinnershine of Andover. He was the cherished grandfather & “Grampy” of Amanda, Rebecca, Sydney, Morgan & Colin. Jerry was the dear brother of his late siblings, Margaret Crowley, John "Jack" Crowley, and Joseph Crowley. Memorials in Jerry's name may be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association, www.lbda.org.

Visiting hours for Jerry will be held at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., Burlington on Wednesday, February 1, 2023 from 6 to 8pm. Funeral Services and Burial will be private.

For online guestbook, obituary and tribute video, see www.sullivanfuneralhome.net