John William Crowley

After graduating from the University of South Florida in 1968, John joined the Peace Corps, serving in a rural agricultural program in Northeastern Thailand, and subsequently worked on the editorial desk for the daily English language papers The Bangkok World and The Bangkok Post. From 1977 to 1990, he worked with the International Rescue Committee in Thailand as part of the Joint Voluntary Agency, where he screened Indochinese refugees for U.S. resettlement. Among them was Dr. Haing S. Ngor, who honored John in his autobiography.

John became a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State in 1990, serving with distinction as a political officer in the United Kingdom, the Philippines, Thailand, and Australia, as well as deputy political advisor for the U.S. Pacific Command in Hawaii. He retired in 2012, after serving as Senior Advisor with the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism in the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation.

He was humble, a superb listener, and quietly funny at exactly the right moments. To his family, he was simply Dad—present, watchful, helpful, and endlessly loving. At home, he was happiest with a puzzle in progress, a backyard bird to identify, a long walk downtown on the Capital Crescent Trail, or mastering the daily Wordle or Spelling Bee challenge, always achieving “Genius” status. He filled the bird feeder every morning, photographed passing wildlife and his favorite birds, and always had time for one more walk outside with his beloved dogs, Sampson and Minnie. He is survived by his wife, Sivalee; daughters, Jamie and Allison; brothers, Tim and Patrick, and sister Anne; and dog, Minnie.