John A. Williams/Crouch & Fitzgerald



The great-grandchild is me. My mother just sent me this obituary. I had never seen it before.
My great-grandfather was the Owner and President of Crouch & Fitzgerald (something I literally just learned).


Crouch & Fitzgerald was a prestigious New York-based luxury leather goods company, renowned for its high-quality luggage and travel accessories, including steamer trunks and briefcases. Established in 1839, the company was known for its skilled craftsmanship, particularly custom-made items for wealthy clients like Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The business closed sometime in the early 2000s but continues to be recognized today through vintage products sold on platforms like Etsy and eBay.

I remember my grandmother speaking about living in New York City, seeing (maybe meeting?) Babe Ruth in her building, attending the Veltin School for Girls, but I never thought to ask about her father’s work.

For those of you that actually know me, I’ve been a history teacher for most of my adult life, so of course I find this all very fascinating!

For more information on Crouch & Fitzgerald visit: https://crouchandfitzgerald.wordpress.com/category/the-legacy/

My 9/11/01

the second tower went down
when I was in the car
heard disbelief, NPR like me
unable to stay calm, explaining
the before of white shirts waving for help
specks of humanity jumping out of windows
their hail hit while
I was eating my cereal flakes

at school, televisions on in every room
sirens rushing sound all over screens
the towers falling over and over again
repetition, it happened, it happened

“what does this mean?” I asked my students
as if they knew
“we are going to war,” one said
he wasn’t wrong

I put my classroom flag out in the hall
duct taped it up for all to see
half-staff in my mind
everything in disarray
some TVs stayed on the whole day

kids asked the one teacher from Manhattan
who she knew there
almost excited to hear loss firsthand
like watching people on CNN
holding photos of sisters, mothers, dads
the missing
the forever gone