Robert W. Crowley

NATICK Robert W. The Old Pro Crowley, of Natick, died suddenly on Sept. 24, 2008, at the MetroWest Medical Center in Natick. He was 81 years old. Born in Newton, the son of the late Daniel and Elizabeth (Mitchell) Crowley, Mr. Crowley was raised in Newton and graduated from Newton North High School in 1944. During his youth, Mr. Crowley began his lifelong love of golf as a caddie at the Charles River Country Club from 1935 to 1944. He enlisted in the United States Navy on Jan. 22, 1945, and entered the Navy V-5 program, attending Berea College, Bucknell University, Cornell, and the University of Pennsylvania. Upon returning from his military service in 1946, Mr. Crowley entered Boston College, from which he graduated in 1950. During his years at B.C., Mr. Crowley was a member of the undefeated golf team for all four years, and was nominated by the Boston Herald Traveler as one of Newtons Best 10 Athletes of the first 50 years of the 20th century in 1950. He became a golf professional in 1950, the same year he was the New England Intercollegiate champion. From 1950 to 1956, he was associated with the Upper Montclair Country Club, Essex Fells Country Club, and the Mountain Ridge Country Club. He became a member of the PGA in 1955, and from 1957 until the present, he was associated with the Pine Brook Country Club in Weston, where he served as the head pro from 1961 to 1991, and as the director of golf from 1991 to present. Throughout his 58-year golf career, Mr. Crowley had played in 10 U.S. Opens, 10 National PGA Championships, 20 tour tournaments, led three tour tournaments at the end of three rounds, won more than 400 tournaments between 1950 and 1977 as a professional, was a four- time Mass Open Winner, five-time NEPGA champion, two-time NEPGA Sr. champion, on New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine opens, won the Northeast Pro Championship, and qualified twice and was 1 of 150 around the world chosen to play in Carlings World Championship. He established 23 course records during his career and was a charter member of the New England PGA Hall of Fame, member of the Newton High School Athletic Hall of Fame, and the Boston College Athletic Hall of Fame. Devoted to his family, Mr. Crowley found his greatest joy in spending time with his grandchildren, teaching his daughter how to play golf and seeing how well she could hit the ball, and was especially proud of his sons inventions and professional accomplishments at Boston Scientific. Mr. Crowley is survived by his wife, Marilou Cordova-Crowley of Natick; his son, Robert J. Crowley and his wife, Patricia, of Sudbury; his daughter, Mary Beth Crowley of Newton Centre; his stepson, Matthew Cordova of Natick; his grandchildren, Sienna and Joseph Cordova of Natick; his former wife, Claire Crowley of Newton Centre; and many nieces & nephews. He was also the brother of the late James Crowley and Daniel Crowley Jr. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a funeral Mass in St. Zepherin Church, 99 Main St. (at Cochituate Village), Wayland, on Monday, Sept. 29, at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in St. Marys Cemetery, Needham.Visiting hours in the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home (www.everettfuneral.com), 4 Park St., at Natick Common, will be on Sunday, Sept. 28, from 3 to 7 p.m. Donations in his memory may be made to the Robert W. Crowley Golf Scholarship, Boston College, Moore Hall 220, 140 Commonwealth Ave. Chestnut Hill, MA 02467.