Fran Crotty (1932-2018) – Requiesat In Pace
Co-Founder of NAPCIS, Francis Anthony Crotty passed from this life with his dear family nearby on Monday, Dec. 10th. He was the fifth child, born to Anne Byrne Crotty, a native of Dundalk, Ireland and John Michael Crotty, a native of San Francisco. The John Mike Crottys settled in San Francisco where Fran (as he was called) attended Sacred Heart Grammar School, St. Ignatius and Lick Wilmerding High Schools before entering the US Air Force.
Fran served 4 years in Korea. When he returned home in 1957, he joined the California Highway Patrol. He was assigned to duties in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Oakland, and finally Napa.
On St. Patrick’s Day, 1962, he met ‘Maggie’ McGee while playing the bagpipes in Harrington’s on Jones St. They were wed in 1964 in Barrington, Ill. He and Margie moved into a vintage Victorian home in San Francisco’s Eureka Valley There they welcomed: Matthew, Christopher, Brigid, Megan, and Rebecca. Baby Molly (Anna Mairin) was born in Burbank while Fran was serving as sergeant.
While in San Francisco, Fran showed his talent for activism, especially when the issues involved Catholic Church teaching, traditional family, and the unborn. He served as Parent-Teacher President at the local parish when his own children were only toddlers. There he founded the ‘Family League of San Francisco,’ helped form the ‘Pro-Life Council of California,’ United for Life, San Francisco, and the ‘Santa Clarita Valley Action League’ while living in Valencia, Ca.
Fran never gave up his dream of founding a private Catholic School. For 20 years he searched sales for student desks ‘for the school.’ Finally, in the fall of 1980, Kolbe Academy was co- founded, thanks to the hard work and dedication of the Muth and Cortese families.
Within a short time, Fran said farewell to the Hwy. Patrol and gave full time to administrating the school, which he did until 2001.
Children Chris, Brigid, Megan, Rebecca and Molly graduated from the Academy. First born, Matthew had died in his second year.
His pro-life passion carried on with ‘Operation Rescue,’ and later, ‘Napa Valley Culture of Life,’ and ‘40 Days for Life.’ He was a regular prayer warrior in front of the local Planned Parenthood.
There were other activities as well. Fran was a long-time member of the Knights of Columbus, formed the Latin Mass Group, co-founded the Kolbe Academy Home School, and served as President of the Kiwanis Group of the Greater Napa Valley.
All the while, his heart belonged to his family. He is predeceased by his son, Matthew Anthony, his parents John and Anna Crotty; his brothers, Bernard, Jack and Kevin; his sisters, Barbara and Anne; his sisters-in-law Pauline, Joan, Jean; and his brother -in-law Bill.
He is survived by his wife Margaret, his children Fr. Christopher, Brigid, Megan and Sean Breen, Rebecca and Jeff Feeney, and Anna (Molly) and husband Michael Francisco. His grandchildren are Nadia, Maya, Gianna, Augustine, Jocelyn, Emmanuella, James, Elizabeth, Hannah, Joe Pat, and Maggie. Their great grandchild is Florence.
He is also survived by brothers-in-law; Kim McGee and wife Mary, John McGee and wife Alice, David McGee and wife Jean, and Peter McGee and wife Veronica; sister-in-law Kathleen and husband Michael Finn.
Fran had countless nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews from California, Arizona, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, Colorado and Florida.
His earmarks were his faithfulness, courage and vision.
Fran will be deeply missed by everyone who knew him. I had the good fortune to meet Fran, Margie and their daughter at a prayer breakfast in Santa Maria. What a lovely family.
May God bring comfort to the Crotty clan
My father worked tirelessly for his family. But, not just for his own family, but, for God’s family. He was a veteran of the Korean War which left him scarred for life. His hatred for communism and his hatred for evil, especially towards those who kill innocent lives fueled his campaign to protect the unborn child and mother. He loved my mother and wanted to protect his own children from being lied to by the world. His view of the world after seeing hostility towards Law Enforcement and hatred for laws fueled by liberalism, kept him vigilant and persistent. He and mom felt that it was their responsibility to be united voices for those who don’t have a voice. He promised and vowed to work hard and furiously so that God would be revered in this great nation, that he served and risked his own life for. A nation that was dedicated to God by George Washington. He knew that education was the way to success. But, not education on its own. It had to be rooted in truthfulness and obedience to God. He knew that in order for one to have success, they must be obedient. That we must be ready to do what God calls us to do. That we must be ready to Trust God, Listen to God and Obey God. He left a legacy and even those who were at odds with him still showed up at his funeral. Over seven hundred people.Excluding the souls of the babies who were aborted that he stood in the gap for all his adult life. He wasn’t a hugger or the touchy feely type. But, neither were the majority of the prophets in Scripture. At the end of the day, Fran Crotty left huge shoes to fill for his children and grandchildren and now his two great grand children by which one is named Maximus who was born in December 2020. I am happy that God took him before he saw the great Apostasy within the Catholic Church as the false pope continues to spew out lies and heresies. I believe that my father would have gone to Rome and would have found a way to remove this demon from Rome…and, it would not be the NICE way! I have not very many men who fashioned themselves after the famous Patrick Henry like Fran Crotty. Who once said : Give me Freedom or give me Death. My father believed that we won’t be free if we don”t stand up and fight for it. We won’t be free if we keep our mouths shut! We won’t be free if we remain passive and expect someone else to do the job that we are supposed to do. I heard that if you want to starve your pet, ask three people to feed it! Well, my father believed that the person responsible for accepting God’s missions in life was the man in the mirror! He is in Heaven now. No more need to worry about the matters of the Earth. He did and gave all. And, now it is up to the rest of us who he influenced and inspired to love God, Family and Country. We love you and miss you so so so much….your prodigal daughter, meg