May 30, 2007

DEATH OF FORMER PASADENA MAYOR JOHN CROWLEY

Former Pasadena Mayor John C. Crowley died of cardiac arrest today at his home in the Linda Vista area.

Elected to the Board of City Directors – now called the City Council – in 1979 and serving for 12 years, Crowley had an interest in municipal finance that was enhanced by a bachelor’s degree in economics and a master’s degree in local government management.

He represented District 1 in Pasadena, which during his service included Northwest Pasadena and the Linda Vista/Annandale area. He served as mayor from 1986 to 1988.
Crowley was founding chairman of the city’s Cultural Heritage Commission, established in 1976 and now called the Historic Preservation Commission, and as a Pasadena appointee to the Burbank/Glendale/ Pasadena Airport Authority from 1989 to 1994 and from 1999 to 2004. He presided as mayor over Pasadena’s centennial celebration in 1986.

“John Crowley made significant contributions to our community and to areas outside Pasadena,” said Mayor Bill Bogaard. “Known for creative solutions to the most difficult issues, he was a highly regarded friend, citizen and public servant.”

In 2005 the John C. Crowley Trail was named in his honor. The trail connects Salvia Canyon in the Linda Vista area to the Arroyo Seco.

During his professional career, Crowley was president of a real estate development
firm, city manager of Monterey Park, Calif. (1953 to 1961), consultant to several organizations including Municipal Finance Officers Association of the U.S. and Canada, editor of the quarterly publication Municipal Finance and manager of the League of California Cities’ Southern California Division.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara, and six children.