Jefferson Crowther is the father of American Hero, Welles Remy Crowther, the legendary 24 year old "Man in the Red Bandanna", and the son of Bosley Crowther, renowned film critic for the New York Times from 1940 until 1967.

That's a lot of greatness to be sandwiched between, and yet, in his way, Jefferson is the greatest Crowther of all. 

I say that because I know Jefferson up close and personal: to know Jefferson is to be with an extraordinary sensitive, cultured, mannered, emotional and kind man. 

Whenever I am with Jefferson a caring sense of affection wells up within me and sometimes, truth be told, I find myself hugging him. 

To have gone through what he and wife Allison were confronted with, the loss of their hero son on 9/11, and still be so kind, nice and positive is beyond me.  They have harnessed their grief  and worked so hard to preserve Welles' legacy of bravery to make us all better people. They have converted an American tragedy into an American miracle. 

It is Alchemy: abject evil has spawned such ample good!

The Crowthers formed the Welles Remy Crowther Trust to channel well meaning contributions back into the community to make it a better world. 

Cayce Crown blogged on Wednesday about our amazing Gotham Book Club lunch on Tuesday celebrating author Tom Rinald'is "Red Bandanna" book about Welles and the Crowthers were present and it was enhanced by the attendance of three of our own Red Bandanna honorees.  It was so great!  No one who was there will ever forget it.

I could go on and on...

I just want to hug Jefferson!



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