Thomas (Tom) P. Crilley, III
Thomas (Tom) P. Crilley, III of Richboro, a beloved husband and father, died peacefully on Tuesday March 1, 2022 at his home. He was 78.
Tom was a native Philadelphian, graduating from Northeast Catholic High School and earning his degree in Education from LaSalle University. His love of teaching led him to pursue a career in which he could share his knowledge with the young men at Father Judge High School for 39 years. He was a revered Teacher and referred to as a “RACONTEUR” by a former principal who enjoyed his witty banter.
Always looking to give back, Tom worked as a Seasonal Park Ranger at Independence National Park, sharing his knowledge of our country and our region’s history for over 20 years. His work in chronicling the history of the United States, and those who helped establish it, led to an award of membership in the Legion of Ancient Historians by the United States Military Academy, West Point.
To say that Tom was a baseball enthusiast is an understatement; he knew facts, figures, and names going back decades before his birth. There was not a question you could ask that he did not have an answer for and was right 9 times out of 10. He would constantly win tickets to local sporting events for answering questions on 610 WIP radio several times in his lifetime.
His passion for baseball came through as both a player and a coach. In his latter years, he was affectionately known by his friends and loved ones as “Coach,” after several years coaching baseball and softball teams in the area. As a coach, Tom had the honor of working with the players on the high school teams of Lansdale Catholic, Harry S. Truman, St. Basil Academy, Archbishop Wood High School, Northampton Girls’ Travel Softball Association, and Northampton Junior American Legion. He was most proud of his success leading the Bristol Township Blazing Angels to win the American Softball Association National Title for 18 and Under Girls’ Softball, the first east coast team to win this title, in 2000.
Tom was a faithful communicant of St. Bede the Venerable Parish in Holland and member of the Knights of Columbus, St. Bede The Venerable Council # 15478. He was honored to serve on the boards of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), the Philadelphia Athletics Historical Society, and the Willard Savings & Loan Association.
He was a man of few words, but always the right words. He will be missed for his quiet manner and warm smile. Tom was the devoted husband of 52 years to Elizabeth F. “Liz” Adams Crilley. Son of the late Thomas P. Crilley, Jr and Helen McCaffrey Crilley, brother of the late Donald, Clare and Kathleen Crilley.
In addition to his beloved wife Liz, he is survived by his devoted children; Christa A. McConaghy and her husband Mark, Lisa B. Crilley, Thomas P. Crilley, IV and his wife Krista, 1 sister Patricia Crilley Canning and her husband Tom. He was the proud grandfather of 5; Liam and Erin McConaghy, Jake and Chase Bloomquist, and Penn Crilley.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend his viewing on Tuesday March 8, 2022 at St. Bede the Venerable Church, 1071 Holland Rd. Holland, from 10:00 am until his Funeral Mass 11:00 am. Interment will follow in All Saints Cemetery, Newtown.
Contributions in his memory may be made to St. Bede’s Memorial Fund at the above address or the Parkinson Disease Foundation at 1359 Broadway, Suite 1509, New York, NY 10018.
Posted online on March 03, 2022
Published in Bucks County Courier Times
