Tributes and donations flood in for Elena Crowley, 53 — a devoted mom, wife and retired officer struck and killed this week
A wave of grief — together with an outpouring of love — has swept through Wantagh, Roslyn and across Long Island and New York City this week in wake of retired NYPD officer Elena Crowley’s sudden and tragic death in Wantagh.
The Wantagh resident and mother of two children away at college was struck and killed Monday afternoon by a pickup truck while walking her dog on Briard Street.
Crowley, 53, was hit near the intersection of Lufberry Avenue about 5:22 p.m. by a 2025 GMC pickup truck that was turning south onto Briard Street, police said. She was rushed to an area hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
The driver remained at the scene, and Nassau County homicide detectives are continuing their investigation.
But beyond the cold facts of the accident lies a portrait of a woman who was, by all accounts, irreplaceable — a fierce, funny, devoted mother; a loyal friend; a trusted colleague; and a passionate community member.
‘The heart of her family‘
Crowley was, first and foremost, a mother, according to the many memories that have been shared publicly by friends and family.
Her daughter Sierra is a student at Northeastern University, and her son Damien is a freshman studying chemical engineering at Stanford University. Those close to Crowley, who worked as a security aide at Roslyn High School, said she never missed an opportunity to talk about them.
“Seeing Elena each day at pickup was always a bright moment,” wrote Roslyn parent Melissa Schilling. “She greeted us with warmth and pride, often speaking about her beautiful children and how deeply proud she was of them. Her love for her family shone through in every conversation. Elena was truly an angel.”
That pride was evident to seemingly anyone who crossed paths with her — on social media, at school, on the street. Crowley’s children were her world, and she made sure everyone knew it.
Crowley is survived by her husband Brian and their two children, as well as her siblings Rose Maria (Arthur), Mary Ann (Fuoco) Mills (Joe), Anthony Fuoco (Linda), Karen Rambrant (Vern), Nancy Fuoco, and Franna Fuoco (Alex) She was preceded in death by her brother Ben Fuoco.
Crowley’s obituary says she was the heart of her family and a “force to be reckoned with.”
“Each individual relationship she had with her family members was one of a kind,” her obituary notes, “and her family bond with each of them is unbreakable.”
Proud officer and caring aide
Crowley served with the NYPD’s 19th Precinct on Manhattan’s Upper East Side before retiring. After leaving the force, she found a new sense of purpose working in security at Roslyn High School.
“Elena carried out her role with great professionalism and dedication at Roslyn High School, but what made her truly special was how she went above and beyond her duties to look out for my daughter,” Schilling wrote. “Her support, kindness and unwavering compassion did not go unnoticed.”
Crowley’s former NYPD colleagues remember her the same way.
“I’ll remember Elena as a beautiful person inside and out,” wrote colleague Kaymoon Shen. “Her thoughtfulness will not be forgotten along with her beautiful smile. The 19th Precinct was so lucky to have her.”
Roslyn Schools Superintendent Allison Brown released a deeply personal statement on behalf of the entire district.
“Elena was the person we all counted on,” Brown said. “When she was on site, there was a collective sense of relief; we knew things would run smoothly and safely.
“More than her efficiency, it was her quiet kindness and steady presence that allowed our students to trust and depend on her,” Brown continued. “Her greatest pride and joy were her children, Sierra and Damien. In every conversation we had, her love for them shone through with a radiant maternal pride.”
Community advocate and cherished friend
Students at Wantagh High School — her children’s alma mater — recalled Crowley’s commitment to volunteering with Warriors for a Cure, a student organization dedicated to fighting blood cancer.
“Elena was more than a supporter of Warriors for a Cure — she was a passionate advocate, a devoted volunteer, and a true friend,” the organization shared in a Facebook post.
“Her kindness, generosity, and unwavering belief in our mission touched our team in ways that words can hardly capture,” the Warriors for a Cure post continued. “She gave her time, her heart, and her voice to the fight against blood cancer, always lifting others up and inspiring those around her.”
Friends remembered a woman as warm as she was strong — a Lynbrook High School alumna and Towson University alumna who loved the beach, her dogs, late summer nights by the pool, and the holiday traditions she shared with her family each year.
“Elena was one of a kind and we had some good times through the years,” wrote Jacqueline Grosman. “I will always remember her smile and her love of the beach and a good vacation with friends and family. She will be missed immensely.”
GoFundMe surpasses $55,000 in a single day
The depth of the community’s admiration for Crowley became tangible within hours of the GoFundMe campaign launched by her niece, Aja Beckmann. In one day, contributions sorded past $55,000.
The donations will help support funeral and memorial expenses, as well as ease the financial burden on her family moving forward, Beckmann said.
“Thank you for helping us honor Elena’s life, strength, and the fierce love she gave so freely to everyone around her,” Beckmann wrote.
Services for Elena Crowley
Crowley’s family will receive friends at visitation services on Friday, March 13, from 2-9 p.m. at Charles J. O’Shea Funeral Homes, 603 Wantagh Avenue in Wantagh.
Cremation will be private, according to her obituary.
Top: Elena Crowley, retired NYPD officer, smiling in her police uniform, overlaid on a family photo with her husband Brian and children Sierra and Damien. (Facebook/Elena Fuoco Crowley)
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