Richard Alan Conroy

Richard Alan Conroy, M.D., passed away on August 24, 2021 in Venice, Fla., at age 77, at Venice Regional Bayfront Health, the hospital from which he served patients for many years as an ophthalmologist and surgeon.

Born in New Haven, Conn., to John and Rita Conroy, Richard went on to Notre Dame High School, Georgetown University, and Georgetown Medical School, where he also served his residency; there in Washington DC he met the love of his life, Mary Hucksam, who he married in 1968 and with whom he enjoyed 53 years of marriage and world travel, while building a remarkable family.

After a stint in the US Navy at Naval Air Base Pensacola, Richard and his young family settled in Venice, in 1976, where he started a practice of ophthalmology from which he retired in 2013. Over his years in Venice he enjoyed countless rounds of golf at the Mission Valley Country Club (as a member of the Hole in One Club), countless days behind the wheel of a succession of boats (all named "20/20"), and countless nights with his beloved friends at the Venice Wine & Coffee Company.

Richard is survived by his wife Mary; children; Cathy, Brian, and Chris; grandchildren; McKenna, Ella, Jake, and Lydia; brothers; Robert and John; and the thousands of friends and patients -including, in a memorable tale, both an elephant and a tiger of the Ringling Bros. Circus - around Venice and the world who adored him. Everyone who met him loved him; no one who knew him will forget him. Richard was an avid supporter and former Board Chair of the Gulf Coast Community Foundation; donations can be made there in his memory, to the Conroy Family Fund, at http://www.gulfcoastcf.org/Conroy-Memorial.

A memorial event will be scheduled for later this fall.