Gene Crotty, 87, of Charlottesville, formerly of Botetourt, died Wednesday, February 22, 2017 at The Colonnades of Charlottesville.
He was born June 6, 1929 in Princeton, W.Va., where he served as a Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War, after which time he attended the University of Virginia (UVA) earning a Bachelor of Science in Commerce. In 1957, Gene earned an MBA in the first graduating class from the Darden Graduate School of Business at UVA.
Shortly after earning his MBA degree, Gene obtained his CPA certification and embarked on a career teaching Accounting and Taxation, serving on the faculties of the University of Virginia, Georgia Tech, University of North Carolina, University of Texas and Texas A&M during his 40 years of teaching.
Gene served on the Board of Associates for the Alderman Library and Darden’s School Alumni Board. He was an active member of the University of Virginia’s Raven Society, the Abbott Society, the Cornerstone Society and the Thomas Jefferson Society.
An avid admirer and historian of Thomas Jefferson and the history of Southwest Virginia Gene wrote three books on Thomas Jefferson, all of which were sponsored and published by the University of Virginia: “Jefferson’s Legacy: His Own University,” copyright 1996, “Thomas Jefferson Trivia; The Many Facets of a Fascinating Man,” copyright 2000, “Jefferson’s Western Travels Over Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains,” copyright 2002. Gene was honored by the Library of Congress for his first book. Gene also authored “The Visits of Lewis & Clark to Fincastle, Virginia,” copyright 2003, which was published by the Southwest Virginia Historical Society.
Gene was preceded in death by his wife, Judy Crotty, who passed away in 2007. He is survived by his two sons, Michael E. Crotty of Chappaqua, N.Y., and David M. Crotty of Troutville; and two grandchildren, Wyatt Matthew Crotty and Emmalyn Grace Crotty. Gene was fortunate to have spent the past few years of his life with his loyal companion, Mary Flippen, a resident of the Colonnades in Charlottesville. A memorial service will be scheduled for this Spring.
On-line condolences may be made to the family at www.rader-funeralhome.com.