Marvin Conney

Conney, Marvin L.

MADISON - Marvin L. Conney, 94, of Madison, Wis., died on Thursday, March 25, 2021, in Palm Desert, Calif. He was born on March 17, 1927, in Milwaukee, Wis., the son of Nathan and Belle (Burstein) Conney. He is survived by his son, David Conney, M.D. of Los Angeles, Calif.; daughter, Lisa Conney Rosenstock and son-in-law, Rick Rosenstock, of Madison; as well as four granddaughters, Jayme, Kylie, Lauren, and Mara Rosenstock. He was preceded in death by his parents, Nat and Belle Conney; his wife, Mildred "Babe" Golper Conney; and his sister, Joyce Conney Flaherty.

Marv grew up in Ripon, Wis., and dropped out of high school to serve in the U.S. Navy (1945-1946). He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in economics in 1950.

He was employed by Badger Products of Neenah, Wis. (1950-1952), and was the owner of Conney Safety Products Company of Madison (1952-1998). He served as president of the National Industrial Glove Distribution Association.

He believed that "in exchange for our blessings, we must give something back." He served on Boards of Directors and Visiting Committees of the Biological Sciences Division of The University of Chicago Medical Center; Foundation for Neurologic Diseases at Harvard Medical Center; McPherson Eye Research at UW; Morgridge Institute for Research at UW; the Center for Jewish Studies at UW; Hillel at UW; Agrace Hospice, Fitchburg, Wis.; Madison Museum of Contemporary Art Foundation; Madison Opera; United Way of Dane County Foundation; Friends of Wisconsin Public Television; and Tolerance Education Center, Rancho Mirage, Calif. He was a longtime member of Temple Beth El, Madison.

Marv's greatest blessing was to have found Babe, the genuine love of his life and wife for over 65 years. His true feelings for her were best expressed in Irving Berlin's "How Deep is the Ocean?": "How far would I travel to be where you are? How far is the journey from here to a star?"

Private burial held in Milwaukee. Memorial service will be on Sunday, April 11, organized through Temple Beth El, Madison. In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to Temple Beth El, Madison, or a charity of your choice.