Rocco Crowley Obituary (1946 - 2014)

Rocco Crowley, 68, passed away on October 27, 2014 in San Diego, after losing his battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). He was born January 31, 1946 in Tampa, Florida, the son of Victor and Adeline Crowley, and raised in the village of Pecatonica, Illinois. In his youth he was active in youth activities in the Methodist church, the Boy Scouts, the 4H Club, sports, and various school activities. He graduated from Pecatonica High School as a member of the National Honor Society and went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in finance at the University of Illinois. Fresh out of college, Rocco started his career as a buyer for Montgomery Ward. He later held management positions in Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Diego, and retired in San Diego in 2010. Rocco loved all manner of sports. An avid baseball fan, he started collecting baseball cards in childhood and learned the intricate rules of the game. His encyclopedic knowledge of baseball led him to serve as a volunteer umpire for youth baseball in his younger days. In retirement, he could be found at spring training in Arizona, cheering the Padres and the Cubs. Rocco was known for his giving, caring ways and generous spirit. Recently he received the Circle of Promise award for his decades of support for clients of ARCA, an agency serving children and adults with developmental disabilities. A life-long blood donor, he gave blood as often as allowed. As Rocco himself expressed it, donating was a way of “giving back” for the excellent health he once enjoyed (before his ALS diagnosis). Rocco truly left this world a better place because of his generosity and caring. Those who knew him will continue to be inspired by his memory. He is survived by his loving wife, Ellen Shaw, sister Victoria Strevey of Horseshoe Bay, Texas, sister Valerie (George) Jewell of Winnebago, Illinois, brother Christopher (Julie) Crowley of Newburg, Missouri, and his many adoring nieces, nephews, grand nieces, and grand nephews, who meant so much to him. He was preceded in death by his parents, Victor and Adeline Crowley, sister Angela Crowley, brother Randal Crowley, and sister Jane Simmons. Funeral ceremonies to be held at 10:30 am Wednesday November 5, 2014 in the Pecatonica United Methodist Church 528 Washington St with Pastor Katie Voigt officiating. Burial will be in the Pecatonica Cemetery. A visitation will be held at McCorkle Funeral Home – Countryman Chapel 529 Washington St from 4:00 to 7:00 pm Tuesday. The family requests that donations be made in Rocco’s memory to the ALS Association of Greater San Diego or the University of California San Diego (UCSD) ALS Clinic.