Richard T. Crowe, Chicago's Premiere Ghost Hunter, has passed

http://trueillinoishaunts.com/2012/06/07/chicago-paranormal-tour-pioneer-richard-t-crowe-has-passed-away/

Back in 1989, my friend Janet and I had an encounter with the famed Chicago ghost Resurrection Mary.  A few years later, we were contacted by Richard T. Crowe to tell our story on the TV show, "Unsolved Mysteries".  I'll never forget the thrill of recreating the story for the cameras, getting to play "Hollywood" in the southern Chicago suburbs.

But one of the sweetest memories of the entire event was finally getting to meet and chat with Richard T. Crowe.  I'd listened to his stories of Chicagoland haunts for years when he was a guest on WGN radio.  I can clearly recall my Mom and Dad and me gathering around the radio back in the 70s, on a windy October evening, hopped up on Coca Cola in order to stay up through the wee hours, so we wouldn't miss one single minute of Mr. Crowe's compelling stories.

Bachelor's Grove.  The Eastland Disaster.  The St. Valentine's Day Massacre.  Country House Restaurant.  Many folks would've never known about the hauntings associated with these places if it hadn't been for the venerable Mr. Crowe.  I'd go as far as stating that he was instrumental in making Resurrection Mary a household name! 

Besides listening to him on the radio, or catching him on shows like "Unsolved Mysteries", I also had the honor of taking an number of his Paranormal bus tours, both the daytime (spooky),  evening (even spookier), and (spookiest yet) Halloween versions.  The Halloween ones were extra special, because he served champagne and Twinkies!  And in addition to all that, Richard did lectures across the area, complete with a slideshow of paranormal photographs (WAY before this became popular on shows like "Ghost Hunters" and "Ghost Adventures").  I'll never forget the lecture he gave at Morton College in Cicero - when I got to tell him about its very own theatre ghost!

He also did lectures about hauntings in Ireland and New Orleans - and took tour groups to those places as well.  Always wanted to take one of those tours; sadly, that opportunity won't present itself again.  But I'll never forget our chats, his gentle humor and his brilliant knowledge of the paranormal in Chicago.

Over at Chet's Melody Lounge (where the bartender always puts out a Bloody Mary in case Resurrection Mary needs a little pick-me-up between hauntings), I'd like to see a pint of Guinness set out on the counter, in honor of Mr. Richard T. Crowe, ghost hunter extraordinaire.

There are other area ghost hunters, but Mr. Crowe not only started it all but he was The Best.

 Note: If you'd like to watch the "Unsolved Mysteries" segment on Resurrection Mary, see Mr. Crowe being interviewed and yours truly recreate a ghostly encounter, go here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJReMt4sskA

For more info about Mr. Crowe, and to get his book, please go here:   http://www.ghosttours.com/richard.htm