James Thomas Conroy

JT Conroy passed peacefully in Forest Grove, OR on Wednesday evening May 10. JT has gone by many names and lived many places. All of them dedicated to his family. He was sometimes gruff and always demanding of his own work, and he was certainly proud of it, and did his part to instill that sense of pride to everyone who worked with and for him. To keep an image of him in your head is not hard, first picture the mustache; then his Red Wing boots; a corn cob pipe, or some kind of tobacco, some good but not too good bourbon; and definitely a tall glass of whole milk.
Tom Conroy, as they know him in Rushville, Indiana where he grew up, was the second child of Kenny & Patia Conroy. He played baseball & basketball, collected baseball cards and comic books, played guitar, rebuilt cars and always had a dog by his side. Otherwise he was stocking shelves and grinding meat at his family's grocery store and delivering newspapers. His years at Marian College in Indianapolis were important because he met his wife of 50 years Madalyn Donahue there, announcing himself from behind a guitar as "Jimmy Tom John Conroy from Rrrrrrrushville Indiana." He continued his string of remarkable jobs, from camp counselor in upstate New York to Lobster resuscitator at the Indy airport.
Jim Conroy moved to the Eastern Shore of Chesapeake Bay to tend to Martingham Country Club, and through his concurrent study at Penn State, he found his true work passion. He and Madalyn welcomed their first son Ryan there before moving to Kentucky where their second son Michael was born. As golf course superintendent at Hurstbourne Country Club in Louisville he honed his skills, both with turf grass and people. Soon he was building courses as well. Persimmon Ridge Golf Club is a particular point of pride and subsequently Indian Hills Golf Club and many renovations of Louisville's public courses will show his impact on recreation for years to come. He concluded his professional career in 2015 after a decade with the Louisville Metro Parks providing prime grounds for soccer fields, cyclocross tournaments, music festivals, and maintaining top notch turf grass on golf courses all over town.
JT Conroy always had his side hustles on his own and with his friends. The Christmas tree farm, the tree moving truck, the sod farms, the croquet courts, the soccer fields; all of these and more kept his active mind conceptualizing down new avenues. He loved working with his sons whether they could stand it or not, and they shared many years in the golf course maintenance game together, where his pride in their work ethic was always on display. He loved to work with his hands and get into it and also teach while doing it. When his sons moved on to their respective futures, he found his mentee in Franky, who was diligent and willing to learn from him and listen like few could.
A man of few words, but well considered ones, he had an easy going storytelling style- even if it sometimes circled back on itself- that endeared him to those who got to know him. Many people know he was a connoisseur of fine air quality- nothing cheered him as much as driving up into the knobs out of Louisville, to get up and out of the ground level haze. His family in Evansville, IN heard him reimagine the structure of his house during many renovations. He always took any opportunity to put the charm offensive on for doctors and nurses so they wouldn't know how bad he actually felt, having them laughing along with him instead.
His stories and imagination were particularly effective for his most recent act-the move to Oregon in 2020 to be near his grandkids. He fell in love with the beaches, mountains, and the chasing of the sun on the cloudier days of spring. He truly loved how useful his unique brand of expertise was to the family in Oregon. He enjoyed collecting firewood with Mike to keep their wood shed full. He rallied for Mason's soccer games and most recently beamed with pride in his grandson's mowing prowess. He adored sneaking his granddaughter Lily episodes of Finding Bigfoot back in the dark cave of his bedroom, which she would watch through closed fingers while they schemed on future desserts. He loved all these individual moments of usefulness and sharing his unique take on a situation by bringing perspectives to projects that no one knew they wanted or needed- but that often worked out pretty well. He helped Madalyn turn one more house into a home, planting trees, building sheds, repairing fences and making the landscape more unique. And finally the most recent love of his life, his dear Sophie, the most loyal and beautiful dog in the world, possibly the smartest as well. His daily walks with Sophie were a constant source of pride and stamina, and they loved their trips to get coffee or ice cream together, or to visit the beach or mountain. No one would argue that she brought him constant joy these last few years and she was a true friend.
While he has left us sooner than we hoped, he made it further than he ever expected, despite many health challenges over the years. He spent a good part of the last two years reticent to speak about his cancer diagnosis. He didn't want to think about it unless it was to dream of solutions. His health was an ultimate project for him to try and design his way through. He left on his terms, peacefully in his home and for that we are all very grateful.
JT is survived by his devoted wife Madalyn, son Ryan Conroy and partner Marco Rechenberg, son Michael and wife Carly Conroy; grandchildren Mason & Lily Conroy; Kathleen (Conroy) & William Leahy, Joanne Donahue, Chris Donahue, Jeff & Maria Donahue, Maggie & John Kayser, Katie Donahue, Bev Migneault and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
There will not be a service, JT is holding it himself in the great beyond, having a drink with his brother-in-law Jim Donahue. There will be a private family gathering to celebrate JT on his favorite mountain at a later date.
In lieu of flowers please consider a gift in his memory to The Oregon Health & Science University Foundation https://give.ohsufoundation.org or The American Cancer Society (donate.cancer.org).