Remembering Child Safety Advocate Emilie Crown, Memorial Service Planned for Saturday in Damascus
Local officials are mourning the loss of Emilie Crown, the program manager of Montgomery County’s nationally acclaimed car seat program, who died suddenly on Monday.
In an online blog post headlined, “Loss of a Champion,” Fire Chief Scott Goldstein announced Crown’s sudden passing. According to the chief, Crown was a tireless advocate for child safety. She was the architect of Montgomery County’s car seat program, and she was instrumental in helping legislators pass Maryland’s Booster Seat Law. She was also considered one of the country’s leading and foremost experts on Child Passenger Safety.
Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson Pete Piringer said Crown was known not only nationally but internationally for her expertise on installing child safety seats. He said car manufacturers would seek her advice, and she was responsible for launching Montgomery County’s reputation as a national leader when it comes to car seat safety. “We do about 6,000 a year,” said Piringer, “and she touched almost everybody in the program.” She also helped start the county’s partnership with monthly car seat safety checks at Fitzgerald Auto Mall, and Piringer said she was a regular there. The car seat safety program grew under Crown’s direction with locations at Criswell Chevrolet in Gaithersburg, SAFE Kids Montgomery in Aspen Hill and at Station 34 in Germantown.
“She had a passion and a calling,” said Piringer, who added that not many people have her certification and her experience. “She did the work of three or four people.”
On his Twitter account, Congressman Jamie Raskin said he was “deeply saddened” to hear of Crown’s passing.
A memorial service to celebrate Crown’s life is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Feb. 11 at the Damascus Activities Building, 10211 Lewis Drive.
Crown was interviewed by MyMCmedia in 2015 for a report about child safety seat inspections.
According to an online obituary, Crown was born in Germantown and received her nursing degree from Montgomery College back in 1979. She worked as a nurse for more than 20 years and then she became program manager of Montgomery County’s car seat program and co-coordinator for Safe Kids Montgomery.
Donations in memory of Crown may be made to Safe Kids Worldwide.
MCFRS Memorial 10a Saturday 2/11 in Damascus to Celebrate the Life of MoCo Child Safety Advocate Emilie Crown https://t.co/svWt64rLbM pic.twitter.com/rHb7B1a8ue
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) February 8, 2017
Deeply saddened to hear of the passing of child safety advocate Emilie Crown. Thoughts & prayers w/ her family. https://t.co/EI5GuGoGPW
— Rep. Jamie Raskin (@RepRaskin) February 9, 2017
RIP Emilie Crown, past president of @NCPSB, beloved colleague, mentor and friend. @NHTSAgov @safekids @GHSAHQ @NSCsafety @HuffingtonPost pic.twitter.com/X2hxMZ7sfL
— NCPSB (@NCPSB) February 9, 2017
Child passenger safety lost a beloved member, Emilie Crown, this week.Our hearts go out to her friends, family and fellow @NSPSB members. pic.twitter.com/w3uMrVNBKq
— NSC (@NSCsafety) February 8, 2017
Oh this is a terrible loss! Emily was such a wonderful person and nurse! I had the pleasure of working with her, when we served in the state Emergency Nurses Association for the state of Maryland. She was always a positive person!! She fixed my car seat for my son! We will miss you Emily! Rest In Peace, no one will ever replace you. My heart is heavy with sorrow.
Tamra