David M Conroy

It is with heavy hearts we announce the unexpected passing of our cherished husband, father, grandfather, brother, teacher, and friend, David M. Conroy, age 74, of Kingston, MA David passed away on August 7th, 2025, at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston. He left this world peacefully with his loving family by his side.

Born in Salamanca, NY, on July 2, 1951, to the late Rev. Harry L. Conroy and Louise (Schweitzer) Conroy, David and his family moved frequently during his early years before settling in Plymouth, MA. It is there that David made a name for himself. He excelled in academics at Plymouth Carver High School and graduated as class valedictorian in 1969. His success in sports knew no bounds. He received accolades in tennis, cross-country, and track throughout his four years. But his most important accomplishments were in the sport of basketball. Wherever he went, he always had a basketball in hand, dribbling it, throwing it over the wires, and catching it as he made his way along. Dave played as a starter on the varsity team for three years (and two games as a freshman) under Coach Hank Rogers and was a key outside shooter, scoring 1,421 points in his career before the 3-point shot was even adopted. As team captain, he helped bring his team to the Eastern MA Tech Tournament all three years and had the distinct opportunity to play at Boston Garden.

In those days the gymnasium was always filled to capacity for a high school game. One memorable highlight occurred in a game against Abington. Dave ended up in a sitting position on the floor and a teammate passed him the ball. In a desperate attempt to score, Dave threw up the shot and it went in. The crowd went WILD!!!

Dave's basketball career along with his academic success earned him many awards and honors, including Boston Globe All Scholastic numerous times and induction into the High School Basketball Hall of Fame's Inaugural Induction. Dave received academic and athletic scholarships from several Ivy League schools, including Princeton, Duke, Dartmouth and Harvard. Dave attended Harvard University and graduated in 1974 with a B.A. in Psychology/ Social Relations. He went on to earn a Master of Education in Guidance from Bridgewater State College in 1979 and later was a candidate in the CAGS Program in Rehabilitation Counseling at Northeastern University. He spent his life working as a guidance counselor and educator in various capacities until his passing. He was devoted to his students and took great pride in their achievements.

Plymouth also held another special significance for David, for it was there he met the love of his life, Sharon Radcliffe. The two began dating at age 15 as high school sweethearts. They were married in 1975 and moved to Kingston, MA, to begin their life together. They were lucky enough to enjoy 50 plus years of happiness together, filled with travel to visit family, treasured companionship, simple pleasures, fun, and much love. Dave was a patient, sensitive, kind, smart, knowledgeable, thoughtful, gentle, and generous man. He was a proud father who loved his two sons dearly and supported them in all their various endeavors. Dave loved sharing Seinfeld episodes and talking sports with them, and could do so endlessly. Watching his sons become successful in the paths they each chose for work helped create bonds to last a lifetime. A more recent gift he treasured was seeing his sons coach basketball teams for their children and their towns.

Dave's daughters-in-law were a source of joy for him and took the place of the daughters he never had. Dave's grandchildren were the light of his life! He was a "good sport Grampie" who would do just about anything they wanted him to do. Riding roller coasters, dancing to their videos, rebounding for pool basketball, being on the receiving end of squirt guns, going out to get water for them and returning with all kinds of treats, attending their concerts, horse shows, cubing competitions, recitals, gymnastics competitions, and sporting events, and going out for ice cream or sitting down for tea parties all brought a smile to Dave's face. He would give a joyful thumbs-up sign to neighbors after mowing their lawn or shoveling their driveway. Dave would also often spend time with his brother-in-law, Dennis Radcliffe, who had Down Syndrome. Dave would make sure to bring Dunkin' Donuts treats and other goodies to Dennis every Saturday without fail and often sat with him in the hospital during Dennis's many illnesses. They were "Best Buddies," and Dave missed Dennis very much after Dennis passed. Jogging, swimming, spending a day at the beach or pool, gardening, reading to keep up with the news, exploring new places, puttering around the house, fixing things, learning to cook, feeding the birds, and watching Boston sports were all activities Dave enjoyed. But spending time with his wife and his family made him the happiest by far.

David will be deeply missed by his devoted wife of 50 years, Sharon (Radcliffe) Conroy, and their two sons and daughters-in-law: Randy Conroy and his wife, Janelle Berg Conroy, of Cumberland, RI; and Christopher Conroy and his wife, Danielle Robinson Conroy, of Windham, NH. Dave was the cherished "Grampie" to his three granddaughters, Kayla Conroy, Addison Conroy, and Payton Conroy, and his two grandsons, Luke Conroy and Grayson Conroy. David is survived by his sister, Evelyn Conroy, and her husband, William Morris, of Scarborough, Maine; his sister, Lou-Anne Conroy, of West Barnstable, MA; and his brother, Stephen Conroy, and his wife, Barbara Conroy, of Portland, Maine. David also leaves several nieces and nephews and a multitude of friends.

A private family celebration is planned for David later in the month. In lieu of flowers donations in David's memory may be made to:

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284 or via dana-farber.org/gift; or to REACH, Inc., 20 Middle Street, Plymouth, MA 02364 or online at reachinc.net