Eugene and Anna Conese

MIAMI, Fla. – Eugene P. Conese, Sr. and Anna May Conese, beloved parents, grandparents and great-grandparents pass away six days apart.
Mr. Eugene P. Conese, Sr. and Mrs. Anna May Conese passed away peacefully, six days apart, on Thursday, March 19, 2015 and Wednesday, March 25, 2015. After sixty years together as husband and wife, their love transcends to eternity together.
Eugene P. Conese, Sr. was born in Eastchester, NY on August 1, 1929, the son of Frances and Frank Conese. He passed way peacefully at home on Thursday, March 19, 2015. Gene's life was one of dedication and love. A loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, he positively impacted the lives of countless people during his life.
Anna May Conese was born in New York City on January 30, 1933, the daughter of Mary and Peter Savino. She passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, March 25, 2015, surrounded by her adoring family. Anna May was predeceased by her husband of 60 years, Eugene P. Conese, Sr. just six days prior to her passing. A loving wife, devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, and true friend, she left the world a better place by her presence.
Eugene P. Conese, Sr. graduated from Iona College in 1951 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. In 1954, after serving in the Korean War, he earned his MBA from NYU. In 1976 he received an honorary Beta Gamma Sigma Award from St. John's University. In 1992, in recognition of Eugene's Outstanding Achievement as an Entrepreneur, he was awarded the Iona College Alumni Association's Brother Arthur A. Loftus Award. He has served with distinction as a member of the board of trustees and contributing generously to both the Vision into Reality and Visions of Excellence capital campaigns. In 2001, Iona conferred on Eugene the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters. In recognition of His service and contributions to Iona College over the years, in 2008 its principal student dormitory was named after him and is known as Conese Hall. Eugene P. Conese, Sr. was the founder, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Greenwich Air Services, Inc. until its sale to General Electric in 1997. He was the winner of the prestigious Wright Brothers Memorial Award (1996) from the Greater Miami Aviation Association. Eugene had also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Jackson Memorial Hospital Foundation. In March of 2004, his name was permanently inscribed on the Smithsonian's National Aviation and Space Exploration Wall of Honor as a leader in aviation and space exploration. In November of 2009, Eugene received the 2010 Ellis Island Congressional Medal of Honor in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the community. He was an inspiring leader who will be missed by all that ever had the opportunity to meet him.
Anna May Conese's philanthropic interests were numerous. She was named Queen of Hearts in 2011 by Miami Children's Hospital Auxiliary in recognition of her philanthropic efforts on behalf of the hospital. She was an honorary board member of the American Red Cross Greater Miami and Keys Chapter, served as philanthropic chair of the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden Gala in 2007 and 2008 and was chair of the 2008 Miami Humane Society Pawpurrazzi event. In addition, Anna May received the Leading Ladies of Miami award by the Viscayans and was chosen a Women of Substance and Style by the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis. She was a benefactor of the America Cancer Society and received the Excalibur Award by its Miami-Dade chapter 2002, 2003 and 2005. Anna May served as philanthropic chair of the Society's 2007 Inner Circle of 12 and was an honoree in 2008. Moreover, Anna May and her husband received the " Outstanding Couples of Miami" award, the March of Dimes Philanthropic Award, and were honored in Moet Marriages as one of the community's most loving and philanthropic couples. Anna May was also very involved philanthropically with organizations in Newport, Rhode Island, where she and her husband spent the summer months. She was recognized as a member of the " Chairman's Circle" of the Preservation Society of Newport, and was a major Patron of the Redwood Library and the Newport Art Museum. Anna May was on the Board of Trustees for the Newport Art Museum in Newport, Rhode Island and was also actively involved with the Newport Hospital Foundation. Her beautiful smile and loving heart will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
Mr. and Mrs. Conese, Sr. leave behind two daughters and two sons and their spouses, Deborah and James Eagan of New Canaan, CT, Susan and Peter Metzger of Weston, FL, Eugene and Marianne Conese, Jr. of New Canaan, CT and Mark and Cynthia Conese of Easton, CT; ten grandchildren and their spouses, Amanda (Metzger) and Matt DeSocio, Melissa (Metzger) and Steve Finkelstein, Jeffery Metzger, Kendall Eagan, Meredith Eagan, Conor Eagan, Caroline Conese, Jacqueline (Conese) and Matt Johnson, Christine Conese, Katherine Conese; and two great-grandchildren Ella and Jordan DeSocio. They are also survived by Anna May's sister, Nancy Herrmann, Gene's sister's Anita Healy and Mary Bertoncini and brother-in-law Renny Bertoncini, seven nieces and nephews and nine great-nieces and nephews
A funeral mass celebrating their lives was held on Saturday, March 28, 2015 at Holy Family Church in New Rochelle, New York and was followed by Interment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, NY.
Memorial donations are encouraged to the Frances and Frank Conese Scholarship Fund at Iona College in New Rochelle, NY. Contact Paul J. Sutera, Senior Vice President for Advancement & External Affairs, at (914) 637-2710 or psutera@iona.edu).

This obituary was originally published in The Newport Daily News (Newport, RI).