Joseph M. Conway

Joseph Michael Conway, 39, of 12 Elmwood Ave., North Adams, was killed in a tragic car accident in Staten Island, N.Y., early on the morning of Sept. 3, 2007.
He earned a bachelor of science degree in economics from Fordham University and a juris doctor from New York Law School, Manhattan. He was a couple of courses shy of an MBA from Columbia University and was working toward a master’s degree in microbiology.
Mr. Conway served as an attorney while working as a longtime staffer in former Gov. George Pataki’s administration, first with the Consumer Protection Agency, then the governor’s general staff, before becoming a staff lawyer with the Child Services Administration. He helped draft the state’s telecommunications deregulation legislation and consumer protection legislation. He also worked on the Child Health Plus plan, which provides health insurance for uninsured children.
In addition to consulting and building his own law practice focused on gay and lesbian rights, he played a key role in the development of the Kolok Gallery with his life partner of eight years, Kurt Kolok.
At the time of his death, Mr. Conway had accepted a position as an adjunct professor at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. He also just had accepted a full-time position as a senior program manager with IEEE-ISTO, a technology standards management organization.
As an attorney, Mr. Conway had recently scored in the top eight percentile of the Massachusetts Ethics Exam.
He was passionate about family, in particular his 12 nieces and nephews. He also was recently thrilled to become godfather to the child of close friends.
He was an active member of the Williamstown Congregational Church, volunteering on its stewardship and other committees. He was a board member of the Contemporary Artist Center in 2000.
His interests were diverse and included music, interior design, gardening, painting, travel, cooking and debating. He was a voracious reader -- reading up to 10 books a week on topics ranging from microbiology to art, history and fiction.
He will be remembered for his generosity, kindness, modesty and humor, in addition to the friendship and love he brought to Kurt Kolok, his family, and his friends.
In addition to his life partner, he leaves his parents, Patricia and Joseph Conway Sr.; two younger brothers, Gary Conway and Patrick Conway; an aunt and uncle, Elaine and Tony Flynn; cousins, Erica Flynn and Jamie Flynn, along with a large extended family.

FUNERAL NOTICE -- A funeral Mass for Joseph Conway was held on Friday, Sept. 7, at St. Joseph’s Church in Staten Island, N.Y.
A local memorial service to celebrate Mr. Conway’s life will be held Saturday, Sept. 15, at 11 a.m., in the B-10 Theatre at Mass MoCA.
A foundation will be set up to help achieve some of Mr. Conway’s many goals. For more information, visit info@kolokgallery.com