Edward J. Crogan, 1947-2020
PEORIA, Ariz. — Edward J. Crogan, 72, passed away Feb. 11, 2020, at Hospice of the Valley in Peoria. With his wife Victoria (Spisak) at his side, he died following a 10-month battle with lung cancer.
Ed was born May 29, 1947, in Youngstown to the late Thomas W. Crogan Jr. and Anne T. Crogan. He was a 1965 graduate of Ursuline High School and a 1969 graduate of John Carroll University. Following college, Ed returned to the Mahoning Valley, where he obtained his journeyman licenses in both plumbing and welding.
Employment over the years took him to Crogan Plumbing and Heating Co. in Youngstown, the Iver J. Lee Corp. in Sharon, Pa., Foster-Wheeler International Corp., and finally to the Phoenix-Goodyear Airport in Goodyear, Ariz., from where he retired.
Ed’s employment with Foster-Wheeler took him to Turkey, Chile, Aruba, Curacao, Indonesia and Venezuela, where he worked as one of many field and project managers at some of the largest power plants and petroleum refineries in these countries.
Returning to the U.S., Ed was sent by Foster-Wheeler to Montana, Nevada, and finally, Arizona. Following the years with Foster-Wheeler, Ed served for 15 years as maintenance supervisor at the Phoenix-Goodyear Airport.
He and Victoria lived in Peoria until his death; they had been married for 37 years.
Ed was an avid reader and a serious aviation aficionado, especially of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, and even attained a pilot’s license.
He was intensely interested in local and national politics, following all closely, and he made his opinions known not only to the local newspaper, The Arizona Republic, but to national newspapers, and to his representatives locally and in Congress as well.
Ed is survived by his sisters, Annie Gardner of Boardman, Marguerite (Ed) Hassay of Canfield, Mary (Keith) Watson of Xenia, Ohio; brothers, Terry (Rochelle) of Boardman and Mike (Leona) of Austintown; brother-in-law Arthur Spisak; sister-in-law Elaine Spisak of Youngstown; and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, Ed was preceded in death by an older brother, Thomas W. (JoAnn) Crogan III.
A private family celebration of Ed’s productive life will be held at a later date.
Donations in Ed’s name may be made to John Carroll University, 1 John Carroll Blvd., Attn: Pam Zangara, Alumni Relations, University Heights, OH 44118, or to Hospice of the Valley, 13614 N. 5th Ave. Glendale, AZ 85304.
(special notice)