Robert 'Bob' Conroy

Musician, lover of the outdoors, avid reader, husband, father, grandfather, beloved son-in-law, and friend of many, Robert ‘Bob’ Conroy led a life that many of us could only hope for. Bob left this world suddenly on July 11, 2024 at age 69, doing one of his many passions, rock climbing.

Bob was born in Everett, MA on August 28, 1954 to Margaret (McDonald) Conroy and Robert J. Conroy. Bob was the epitome of a renaissance man, driven by an insatiable thirst for knowledge and growth.

His journey at a young age led him through a variety of roles that offered his family many stories – taxi driver, burger flipper, cardboard box builder, janitor at the Federal Reserve, and screenprinting flying ducks on vacuum cleaner bags – before realizing that the guitar he began playing at the age of thirteen was one of his true passions.

Enrolling at UMass Boston before transferring to the New England Conservatory of Music, Bob earned his Bachelor’s of Music in Classical Guitar and met his muse, and the love of his life, Susan Mello-Conroy. They shared a love of music and performed together many times. Married in 1979, they had two beautiful children, Merry Conroy of Leominster and Kyle Conroy of Somerville, and two cherished grandchildren Jovani and Nalia Rivera. Bob helped in raising his grandchildren and they were the light of his life.

Bob was an accomplished guitarist and songwriter, writing and recording five solo albums and three albums with the band SpyTones. In addition, he was a member of many bands throughout his life including The Glue Factory, Still in the Cellar, Shimmer, and Rocky Knoll. Reflective of his nature, Bob’s love of music spanned across many genres including surf music, contemporary, classical, and blues.

Apart from music, Bob had a deep love of the natural world. He began hiking at the age of thirteen, sparking a passion for outdoor pursuits such as biking, running, camping, and rock and ice climbing. He was known to hitchhike from Everett to the White Mountains and once hitchhiked across Canada. By the time he was 40, Bob had completed a cross-country trek on his bicycle, climbed Grand Teton in Wyoming, joined the 4000-footer club of New Hampshire, hiked trails across the US, and regularly completed athletic charity events and races such as Bikes not Bombs and Crane Beach Triathlon.

Driven by a relentless pursuit of learning, Bob continued his academic journey at Boston University, obtaining a Master’s Degree in Computer Information Systems. He delighted in literature and philosophy and was a passionate reader and champion of literacy. He contributed actively as a member of the Board of Trustees at the Lunenburg Public Library and had an extensive book collection of Wodehouse, Dickens, and Thoreau. He accumulated philosophy credits at BU equivalent to another Master's Degree purely out of love for learning rather than any formal qualification. He also enjoyed volunteering in Fitchburg helping recent immigrants to learn English.

A loving husband, he supported his wife in fostering dogs. Over the years they fostered 13 dogs and adopted a total of eight dogs, three cats, and many chickens. He loved his dogs, Louie, Hula, and Cato, very much.

Bob’s love of learning and growth was fostered by his dear late aunt, Kathleen Kotzian. Bob is survived by his loving wife, Susan Mello-Conroy; daughter, Merry Conroy, and grandchildren, Jovani and Nalia Rivera; son, Kyle Conroy, and daughter-in-law, Jovie Conroy, who was a second daughter to him; and his doting mother-in-law, Emma Mello. He is also survived by four siblings: Kevin and Gene Conroy of Everett; Maureen Ricci of Saugus; and Laura Calderone and her husband, Joseph Calderone, of Groveland.

Bob will be honored and guests received by the family on August 2nd from 1pm - 4pm EST at Bigelow Chapel of Mt. Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mount Auburn St., Cambridge, Massachusetts. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in Bob’s memory may be sent to Friends of the Lunenburg Library, Attn: Friends of the Lunenburg Library, 1023 Massachusetts Ave., Lunenburg, MA 01462.