JAMES CONRAD

CONRAD
JAMES W.
In tribute to James W. Conrad who died at his home Friday, March 18 at the age of 82. Born in Penn Hills on the family property abutting 376, just opposite what is now the Sri Venkateswara temple. He was the son of a banker, Francis and his wife Frances (Watson), but he grew up in thrall to his grandfather, Frank Conrad, the Westinghouse inventor who pioneered early radio. They would tinker together late into the night in Frank's lab, the teenager and the veteran engineer, and the joy of that time never left the boy. Neither sadly, did the need to measure up to a brilliant forefather. After HS graduation, he went to St. John's College in Annapolis Maryland, didn't graduate, but spent two years in the Coast Guard Auxiliary traveling to Europe and back. He returned to Pittsburgh, married and worked as a self-employed consultant of all trades until his retirement in 1997. His first love was anything that flew or anything that sailed on the sea. His tragedy was being born too late and with the polio that kept him out of the great crucibles of his time: WWII and the Korean conflict. If any man needed to be tested, it was him, and his resentment of that absent experience molded the rest of his life. His career was nothing to be remarked upon, he knew neither success nor wealth, but he loved children, and any animal his sons might bring home was welcome: cats, dogs, gerbils, snakes, even once a baby raccoon that would perch on his shoulder. He liked fireworks, golf, bagpipes, and the occasional cigar. If you liked to listen, he was a remarkable conversationalist and his memory was extraordinary- tossed back into a city he hadn't visited in 25 years, he could navigate you out of trouble in a jiffy. Strangers often stopped to ask him for directions in towns he was only visiting. When a plane flew over our house, he would glance up from his chair and tell you the model, the engine, and the make from sound alone. He had a predilection for Scotch which might have been better left alone. "Tragedy" is so melodramatic. He was a member of the Pittsburgh Aero club for over 50 years. Late in his career, he helped raise money to have two submarines named after his home - the fast attack USS Pittsburgh and the boomer boat USS Pennsylvania. One of his sons took a ride on the former, and never forgot the experience of standing up in the sail with his father, as the massive thing roared through Connecticut sound like a muscle car built by the Gods. His brother Harry died in 1991. He is survived by his younger brother David of Los Altos Hills, CA and his sister Susan of Pittsburgh; three sons: James Jr. of Alexandria VA, Philip of San Diego and David in Pittsburgh; four grandchildren: Elizabeth, Caroline, Bennett, and Olivia. And his beautiful and tolerant wife of 56 years, Margaret (Clement). "Few of us become the men we expect ourselves to be. Forgiveness is something not simply to be shared but for the selfsame soul." A Memorial Service will be held at Calvary Episcopal Church in Shadyside the first weekend in June.
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