| Tribute to Paul Crowley |
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It is with great sadness that I announce that, after a long and courageous battle with melanoma, Brother Paul Crowley died on Monday morning, September 24th.
Paul was a devoted husband, father and grandfather and a great representative for our city and state. He was very proud of his Irish heritage and steadfast in his Catholic faith. I personally got to know Paul through the Newport Rugby Club and then Div. #1. I think it is safe to say that there would not be a rugby club in Newport today were it not for Paul's ongoing involvement. I will never forget the time 12 years ago or so when we almost lost our playing privileges at Ft. Adams State Park, which, had it occurred, could very well have finished us off. After hearing of what was happening, Paul convened a meeting at Ft. Adams (standing in a circle right next to our field) which included him, the Newport Rugby Executive Board and many State Park managers and employees. The mastery with which he orchestrated a workable solution to what seemed a hopeless and intractable problem astonished us all. Since that day the Club has enjoyed excellent relations with Ft. Adams. Paul's unofficial title at the Newport Rugby Club (and I suspect elsewhere) was Team Visionary. We will all greatly miss his vision, honesty and good humor. With all he accomplished in his too short life, the best that can be said of my friend and brother is that he was a good and decent man, and that is a lot. Please keep Paul and all the Crowley family in your prayers.
Wick Rudd, President | ||