Janice Crow

Janice Salzman Crow passed away peacefully on October 22, 2023, at the age of 75, surrounded by her children. Janice will be fondly remembered by her family and friends for her kindness, thoughtfulness, generosity, creativity, intelligence, and humility. 

Born on January 15, 1948, to Margaret Porter Salzman and William Salzman in Houston, Texas, Janice was a nurturing older sister and frequent partner in mischief to her six siblings. 

As a young person, Janice excelled academically. At Hartman Junior High, she received the American Legion Award for her qualities of character and good citizenship. In 1966, she graduated Summa Cum Laude from Houston’s Jones High School. At Jones, she won many awards and honors for her excellence in speech and debate, including winning the State Championship in Women’s Debate, receiving the Double Ruby (the highest award given by the National Forensic League or NFL), and competing at the NFL Nationals. Janice represented Jones at Texas Girls State in Austin, where she was elected Attorney General and selected as one of only two representatives from Texas to participate in the prestigious Girls Nation program in Washington, DC. She was a member of the National Honor Society, studied Latin and French, and was given the HISD Board Award for Excellence: Outstanding Graduate of Jones Senior High School. 

Janice earned a scholarship to Vanderbilt University where she studied philosophy and history, graduating in 1970 before returning to Houston and marrying her fellow Jones High School graduate, Carl Crow. Janice enjoyed a successful banking career at Texas Commerce Bank and First City Bank where she was among the first women institutional traders in Texas. She completed her J.D. at the University of Houston Law Center while continuing to work full-time. In early 2020, Janice retired from Legacy Trust Company after serving for nearly 20 years as a Vice President and Trust Officer. 

As a mother, Janice was exceptionally active in her children’s schools, scouting and sports activities and was known for her unforgettable creative projects. She was a talented artist in a wide variety of media. From needlepointing to painting, jewelry making, mosaics, cookie decorating, paper mâché, and pottery, she used her talents to light up the lives of those around her. She maintained many close friendships throughout her lifetime despite her busy schedule as a working mother of three. She loved and was loved by so many. 

Janice fought a long, courageous battle with cancer, exceeding every longevity expectation and never complaining despite the many trials she endured. She consistently thought of others until the very end. In a final act of altruism, she donated her body to medical science. 

Janice’s legacy will live on through her three adult children, Leslie Crow (Spencer Ryerson), Catherine Crow (Douglas Shineman), and Matthew Crow (Kimberly Crow), and her beloved grandchildren, Graham Fairfield Ryerson, Elliot Elizabeth Ryerson, Ryan Olive Shineman, and Daniel Shiloh Crow; her sisters, Lorna Wassdorf (Pete) and Lisa Songy (Milt); her brothers, Randy Salzman (Jeanne Liedtka), John Salzman, and Mike Fitch, and all of their families and children. She is preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Steven Salzman.

We love you to the moon and back, Mom. We will strive to live up to the example that you set, and we will miss you every day. 

A private celebration of life is being planned for early December to honor Janice’s memory. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to M.D. Anderson or a charity for the arts such as the Glassell School of Art or Art League Houston.