Michael Patrick Crowley

Michael Patrick Crowley died July 13, 2026 surrounded by family and friends.

He is preceded in death by his wife Kathleen. He is survived by son Michael, daughter Alisa Keolker (John), and grandchildren Hannah and Jack Keolker; Beatrix and Thomas Crowley.

He was the youngest sibling of sister Edna McIvor; brothers Dennis and Arthur Crowley.

Born in 1945, he was a lifelong resident of Tacoma, growing up in the McKinley neighborhood close to his aunt, uncle and cousins. His mother and father had come to Tacoma from Montana in the 1930s after his father found work with the Northern Pacific Railroad. His mother was a homemaker. He took pride in his Montana roots and Irish heritage.

He remembered, as a boy, playing baseball in the big vacant lot near Pacific Avenue, where the neighborhood kids mowed down the tall grass to make a ballfield, catching Saturday matinees with his cousin at the old Park Theatre, and crawling under the fence to see Elvis when he came to Lincoln Bowl.

He attended Holy Rosary grade school and graduated from Bellarmine Prep where he formed many lifelong friendships.

It was through some of these good friends that he met his future wife, Kathy, while they were teenagers. They began dating, eventually married, and remained happily so for 57 years until his wife was taken by ALS in 2024.

At age sixteen, he went to work for his brother-in-law, Bud McIvor, who opened Dahnken jewelry in downtown Tacoma sometime after World War II. During the 1980s, he owned Off Broadway men’s clothing store at 1127 Broadway. After Bud retired, he bought Dahnken until closing it down in 1995.

After Dahnken closed, he worked briefly as a real estate agent for Windermere, then finished out his working days as an Executive Officer with the Master Builder’s Association of Pierce County.

He loved sports. He played baseball and football while at Bellarmine. In his twenties, he coached baseball teams at East Side and North West Boys Clubs, and coached girls softball teams at West End AC in his thirties.

In the late 1970s, he took up running. For years, he ran through the old horse trails at Point Defiance Park with an ever-expanding group of friends who called themselves “The Mudrunners”. He ran the Tacoma Marathon and Sound to Narrows race many times.

He enjoyed being out on Puget Sound–boating, crabbing, and fishing, or at least the idea of fishing. The Tacoma Yacht Club was a favorite gathering spot to share meals and special occasions with family and friends.

In the 1950s and early 1960s, he remembered a vibrant downtown. He recalled the many businesses, theaters, and restaurants that gave it energy and life. He saw the Tacoma Mall open in 1965, marking the beginning of a gradual decline that, in his view, tore the heart out of downtown.

He and the other businessmen and women who remained struggled throughout the 1970s and 1980s to survive amid a declining and deteriorating downtown that appeared to be abandoned and ignored by many. During that time, downtown it seemed, was known more for its red-light district than for anything else.

Early on, this community of dedicated business-folk and supporters tried many creative ideas to draw interest back downtown–creating Broadway Plaza, summer sidewalk sales, farmer’s markets, and the memorable bed races down Pacific Avenue, to name a few. Today, they remain fond memories of a community determined to keep downtown alive.

Many issues precluded support for downtown, but the main one was its image. What was missing was an advocate in city government. Those he knew from these circles agreed and they inspired him to seek office.

With the help of many friends and supporters, he launched his campaign for election to city council in 1993. For two terms, he sat on the Tacoma City Council. In the final year of his last term, he was appointed Mayor.

While in office, he focused on economic development, especially on smoothing the way for small businesses and others trying to earn a living amid a rough sea of regulatory and bureaucratic obstacles.

He also championed efforts to attract investment that would help replace the blight that had taken root after years of neglect. In his view, the natural outcome would be a safer, more attractive downtown, a healthier tax base, and renewed confidence in the city. From there, he worked on numerous larger projects to help revitalize downtown and improve the city’s image overall.

He was fortunate to have had a wide circle of wonderful friendships, young and old, many enduring throughout his life. With all, he was curious and inquisitive–always looking to find where he could be helpful in whatever way.

He had a great sense of humor and never took himself too seriously. Often on the receiving end of jokes, pranks, and other skylarking, he responded with self-deprecating grace. He could laugh at life’s absurdities, and especially at himself, with endearing humility.

More than anything, he loved his family. He was blessed with a perfect counterpart in his sunny and resilient wife who drew out his best qualities and softened his faults. He was always available and supportive to his children and grandchildren, from attending their events to just being there to listen.

At the end of his life, he was continually visited by his grandchildren, nieces, nephews, in-laws, and dear friends whom he considered family. He was the last to die of his older siblings and it pleased him to know that the children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews he leaves behind will together carry on their traditions, values and memories

Services celebrating the life of Mike will be held at Bellarmine Preparatory School, Connelly Campus Center on August 20th, at 11:00 a.m. with a reception following.