By Joe Baker/Daily News staff

NEWPORT - Rep. Paul W. Crowley, who became known as the legislature's foremost expert on education issues during his 27-year legislative career, died this morning at home after a long battle with cancer. He was 57.

Crowley was the most senior Democrat in the House of Representatives, earning him the title of "Dean of the House." He was first elected to the House in a special election in 1981 after then-Rep. James Mahoney was named House fiscal adviser.

Crowley earned recognition in the area of education, becoming synonymous with the Rhode Island Student Investment Initiative, popularly known as Article 31, the section of state law requiring accountability by teachers and setting performance standards for students.

Besides education, Crowley also made his mark in the area of tourism. He was the first chairman of the then Newport County Tourism and Convention Authority - now the Newport County Convention & Visitors Bureau - and was the one of the primary proponents of cruise ship and meals taxes, which bring in nearly $2 million a year in local taxes.

"I am saddened by the news this morning of the death of Rep. Crowley," said Speaker of the House William H. Murphy, D-West Warwick. "Paul was a great individual, a great father and a great husband. What I admired most about Paul was his candor and straightforwardness."

House Finance Committee Chairman Rep. Stephen Costantino, D-Providence, served closely with Crowley, who was a Finance Committee member for 20 years. He called Crowley "passionate and hard working."

"Paul understood the legislative process," Costantino said. "He understood democracy is not a perfect process, but it is the best we have and he knew how to make progress within those limits. He understood you can make progress through compromise."

The news of Crowley's death caught former Mayor Richard C. Sardella by surprise.

"This is terrible," he said. "He was an asset to the city and a premier advocate of education statewide in all the years he served."

Sardella said he first met Crowley when he opened Sardella's Restaurant in 1980. Members of the local restaurant association used to meet at Crowley's LaForge Restaurant.

"As I became more involved in the community, I had more contact with Paul," Sardella said. "He was very supportive of various initiatives in the community. When I was on the council, he was one of the driving forces behind the twinning of Kinsale, Ireland, and Newport." Kinsale and Newport are now sister cities.

"It's a sad day for Newport," said Mayor Stephen C. Waluk. "He was a strong advocate of the city's interests in the General Assembly for more than a quarter of a century. We'll miss him. He was also a dedicated family man and a leader in the community beyond politics. We all respected him."

Newport City Canvassing Clerk Richard E. O'Neill was a longtime friend of Crowley's. Thirty years ago, Crowley, O'Neill and Rick Kelly started the Newport Irish Heritage Commission, which runs a month of Irish cultural events each March.

"Paul cared about the community," O'Neill said. "He was a champion for Newport and the state in general. It's a huge loss for us."

J. Clement Cicilline knew Crowley for decades. Cicilline served on the Newport School Committee for 12 years and in the state Senate for 10. Cicilline said Crowley was a tireless advocate for education and a man of strong convictions.

"His goal was to spread the education dollar as far as it could reach," Cicilline said. "That was very important to him. When you went to Paul with something, you had to be prepared. He was very strong and knowledgeable in his beliefs, and you couldn't just go in and romance him. Sometimes you could get him over to your side. Other times, he would hold firm. This is sad news. He made a lot of contributions on a lot of levels."

Former Mayor Robert J. McKenna served with Crowley in the General Assembly and was among those saddened to learn of his death.

"This is such a loss," McKenna said. "He has done so much for Newport ... to make it better."

McKenna cited Crowley's untiring work in public education and his dedication to promoting Newport's Irish history as some of his greatest contributions to his hometown and his state.

"He had a wonderful, calm personality," McKenna said. "He always came through. He had a lot of influence in the House Finance Committee because he was respected so much."

State Rep. Bruce J. Long, R-Middletown, served with Crowley in the General Assembly and on the board of the Newport County Convention & Visitors Bureau.

"I consider him a visionary," Long said this morning.

It was Crowley who devised the plan that evolved into the Convention & Visitors Bureau.

"It's one of the most successful agencies of its kind," Long said.

State Sen. June N. Gibbs, R-Middletown, said she appreciated Crowley's hard work and dedication, particularly in education. While Gibbs belongs to different party and serves in a different branch of the General Assembly, Gibbs said she admired Crowley's skills.

"This is awful news," she said. "Paul was a good legislator. He really cared about what he did. Hopefully, we'll be able to put into place some of the things he supported."

Services have not been announced yet, but a family friend said this morning that Crowley's wake will be held at the Colony House.

Staff writers M. Catherine Callahan, James J. Gillis and Sean Flynn contributed to this story.