JAMES B. CONWAY

CONWAY, James B. Healthcare Leader A longtime resident of Woburn, died peacefully, surrounded by his family, at Lahey Hospital on July 14th. He was the beloved husband, for 51 years, of Joanne M. (Duffy) Conway. Jim was brought up in Dorchester, the son of John J. Conway and Nora Marie (O'Leary) Conway and one of 6 siblings. He graduated from St. Mary's High School in Cambridge and received a Bachelor's of Science from Boston State University, and a Master's of Science from Lesley University in Cambridge. He began his Healthcare Career at Children's Hospital in Boston, progressing over 27 years to an Assistant Hospital Director. From 1995 -2005 he was the COO and Executive Vice President at Dana-Farber Cancer Center. From 2006-2009 he was Senior Vice President of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and from 2005-2011 a Senior Fellow. From 2006-2009 he was an adjunct lecturer at the Harvard School of Public Health. Throughout his career his focus was on patient safety, patient and family-centered care, crises management and governance and executive management. He lectured nationally and internationally on these topics. He always put the patient first and lived the motto of his favorite Disney Character, Jiminy Cricket, "Let your conscience be your guide." He received the 1999 American College of Healthcare Executive's Mass Regent's award and in 2001 the first individual Leadership Award in Patient Safety by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and the National Committee for Quality Assurance. In 2008, he received the Picker Award for Excellence in the Advancement of Patient-Centered Care, in 2009 the Mary Davis Barber Heart of Hospice Award from the Hospice and Palliative Care Federation, and in 2012 the Institute for Patient and Family Centered Leadership Award, the first Honorary Fellowship of the National Association for Healthcare Quality, the Honorary Fellowship (First) of the National Association of Healthcare Quality, and the Massachusetts Health Council Award for Contribution. The Mass Health and Hospital Association, in 2016 presented him with their MHA Trustee Excellence in Leadership Award. In 2017 Jim received the American Cancer Society St. George National Award. Above all he loved his family and took great joy in everything they did. Whether it was trips to Disney or Ireland, having fun in the back yard, or going on short outings, he was always happiest when the children and grandchildren were around. He and his wife, Joanne, enjoyed numerous trips and cruises around the world. After his retirement he was able to spend more time in the garden and entertaining friends and family there. He enjoyed genealogy research and creating family trees for extended family. His cousins in Ireland were near to his heart despite the distance and he loved hosting them in his home when they traveled "across the pond" or visiting them and his family homestead when "Himself" and his family traveled to Ireland. He loved singing and was an enthusiastic member of St. Charles and St. Anthony in Woburn choirs and Immaculate Conception in Cambridge choir. For a lot of his life he was a scout supporter, first as a scout, then as a scout leader. One of his great joys was participating, along with his sons, in the Boy Scout Jamboree in Portumna, Ireland in 1985, as a scout leader. He served on many Institutional Boards, two local ones being Winchester Hospital and Lahey Hospital. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his brother, Thomas. He is survived by his wife, Joanne M. (Duffy) Conway and his children, Christopher Conway and his partner, Laura Udden of Woburn; Kerry Conway and her husband Bryan Schwarzel of Leominster; and Peter Conway and his wife Lucy of Topsfield and his grandchildren, Joseph, Aislinn and Declan Conway and Arianna, Leili and Sonata Conway; his siblings, John Conway, Jr. and his wife Judith of Randolph, Maureen Conway of Quincy, Francis and his wife Patricia of North Weymouth, and Eileen Conway-Martin and her husband John Martin of PEI, Canada; his sister-in-law, Carol Surette of Wilmington, and nieces, nephew, cousins and friends. Relatives and friends are invited to Jim's Funeral Service, Thursday, July 22nd, at 11 a.m. in the Lynch-Cantillon Funeral Home, 263 Main St., WOBURN. Interment will take place at the convenience of the family. Calling Hours will be held in the funeral home on Wednesday, July 21st from 4-8 p.m. All attending are asked to enter through the front door of the funeral home and exit through the back door. Donations may be made in Jim's memory to the Council of Social Concern, 2 Merrimac St., Woburn, MA 01801. www.lynch-cantillon.com 781-933-0400