Meet the Honorees - Claire Crowley

Claire Frances (Gierman) Crowley was born at home in Chicago on Friday, May 13, 1909. She was the eldest of five children.  Her father, Roy Gierman, worked for Claire’s grandfather, at the Chicago Law Bulletin; her mother, Laila Ewing Gierman was an internationally known professional bowler. Claire attended Morgan Park High School in Chicago, and University of Illinois in Urbana, Illinois. She married her high school sweetheart, William J. Crowley, Sr., and they had three children, William J. Jr., Susan Claire and Rowe Ellen. Claire devoted her life to supporting her husband and raising her children. She found time, as well, to engage in community and charitable activities. For example, she was a volunteer and then President of the Auxiliary of Ingalls Memorial Hospital in Harvey, Illinois. She was an avid bridge player and had many lifetime master points. Her husband, Bill, advanced to become Executive Vice President, Finance, of Northern Illinois Gas Company, President of the Illinois State Chamber of Commerce, and then  first Chairman of the United States Postal Rate Commission under President Nixon.This latter promotion required that they move to Washington DC, where they socialized with high ranking government officials including other members of the President’s Cabinet, Members of Congress and Justices of the Supreme Court. Claire’s children produced eight grandchildren and they, in turn, produced twenty great grandchildren.  No great, great grandchildren yet.Upon Bill’s death in 2003, at the age of 98, Claire moved to Lakeway Texas, at Vista Oaks, where she has lived ever since. She has become an avid Texan, and believes herself to be fortunate to be living at Emeritus at Vista Oaks.