Jefferson Crowther, the father of 9/11 hero Welles Crowther, a Boston College graduate, known as “the man in the red bandana,” died Feb. 13. He was 73. The cause was prostate cancer, said Alison Crowther, his wife of 47 years. He is also survived by his daughters, Honor Fagan and Paige Charbonneau, and their families. Jeff and Alison Crowther repeatedly shared their son’s story of heroism on Sept. 11, 2001, to inspire leadership and character development. Welles Crowther died in the Sept. 11th attack on the World Trade Center. They helped establish the Red Bandanna Project and a family foundation, the Welles Remy Crowther Charitable Trust, toward that mission.
“He was a great protector,” Alison Crowther said of her husband.”He was always taking care of me and our family, a wonderful father and husband. He was a gentleman with a wonderful sense of humor, which is what attracted me to him. He was very funny.”
Tom Sipos of WKIP and I had the opportunity of interviewing Alison Crowther, the mother of Wells, who was a 9/11 hero, on Tom’s Hudson Valley Live Show last year. With the news of the death of Well’s Dad, I wanted to attach our interview here. Give it a listen and say a prayer for Wells and his Dad. The heavens are rejoicing with the reunion of Wells and his Dad.
Published by Ed Kowalski
Ed Kowalski is a Pleasant Valley resident, media voice, and policy-focused professional whose work sits at the intersection of law, public policy, and community life. Ed has spent his career working in senior leadership roles across human resources, compliance, and operations, helping organizations navigate complex legal and regulatory environments. His work has focused on accountability, risk management, workforce issues, and translating policy and law into practical outcomes that affect people’s jobs, livelihoods, and communities. Ed is also a familiar voice in the Hudson Valley media landscape. He most recently served as the morning host of Hudson Valley This Morning on WKIP and is currently a frequent contributor to Hudson Valley Focus with Tom Sipos on Pamal Broadcasting. In addition, Ed is the creator of The Valley Viewpoint, a commentary and narrative platform focused on law, justice, government accountability, and the real-world impact of public policy. Across broadcast and written media, Ed’s work emphasizes transparency, access to justice, institutional integrity, and public trust. Ed is a graduate of Xavier High School, Fordham University, and Georgetown University, holding a Certificate in Business Leadership from Georgetown. His Jesuit education shaped his belief that ideas carry obligations—and that leadership requires both discipline and moral clarity. He lives in Pleasant Valley.
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