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Richard Conway Obituary
Born March 29, 1936, in Providence, R.I., to Col. Bernard and Doris (Albies) Conway, he graduated from Providence College and earned Master's degrees in Education and Earth Science from Eastern Connecticut State College and Franklin & Marshall, respectively. He also completed many courses at various schools with his favorite being a geology class in Red Lodge, Mont. In 1960, Dick married Jean (Gavil) Conway which led to a rich life of love, laughter and travel.
In addition to Jean, survivors include their children: Mark, Patricia (Richard), Peter (Laura), and Timothy (Franca). He is also survived by his brother Barry Conway (Barbara); and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Joan Staton and Patricia Conway. Dick was also the proud grandfather of Kirsten and Scott May, Kevin, Riah and Sean Conway and Alexis Conway.
Dick began teaching science and mathematics at Clark Lane Junior High School in 1958, and moved on to teach earth science, oceanography and chemistry at Waterford High School in 1963. His professional resume also included candidacy for NASA Teacher in Space Program, president and founding member of Friends of Project Oceanology, National Science Foundation Scholarship recipient and founding member of the Thames Valley Rockhounds. He also volunteered at Conn College arboretum. After years of coaching track, he was very involved supporting the WHS athletic programs by collecting game tickets with his dear friends, Frank, Howie and Gerry, and working the game clocks at wrestling meets, soccer and basketball games. He retired in 1993, and will forever be known for his classroom puns, jokes and extra credit questions. His legacy will be known for being an unwavering advocate for each and every student with whom he interacted.
Although he loved his students, Project O and hobbies such as gardening, camping, making jam, word puzzles, stoking the woodstove and playing basketball, Dick was happiest when surrounded by his family. Be it gracing the dance floor with Jean, spending time with his children after hours at the beach, or attending his grandchildren's arts performances and sporting events; Dick was filled with joy.
As a resident of Avalon Health Center for over two years, the family's heartfelt gratitude goes to the staff who cared for Dick. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the WHS Scholarship Fund, Richard A. Conway Memorial Scholarship Fund, Waterford High School, 20 Rope Ferry Road, Waterford, CT 06385.
A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 15, at St. Patrick's Church in Mystic. The service will also be livestreamed.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Richard Conway
Dave Fairman
February 27, 2025
Rest in Peace Dick fellow evening basketball player teacher and all around good guy. You were great and the worldvlostcacreally good guy!
Dan Oscarson
December 15, 2024
Mr Conway was one of the best, he remembered everyone years after, in fact he ran into my uncle by chance in 2020 at an airport and asked how I was doing.My favorite teacher at WHS. My condolences to his family.
Pam (Constantine) Bartolotts
January 27, 2024
The Constantine family sends our deepest sympathy !
John Drew
January 18, 2024
Mr. Conway was one of the best teachers ever to grace the halls of WHS. I was fortunate to have regular contact with him for close to 50 years. His wit and wisdom were legendary. My condolences to his wonderful family.
Fredricka Gunther
January 17, 2024
I have fond memories of our senior class Washington trip.
He was one of the best and kindest teacher at Waterford High. My thoughts and prayers to his wife Jean and his family.
Fredricka Pearson Gunther
Juliana Clark
January 16, 2024
Thinking of you all during this time. I have wonderful memories of Mr. Conway taking me for rides on the back of his motorcycle:) Such a wonderful neighbor and teacher!
Juliana Peterson Clark
Peter Roper
January 15, 2024
I worked with Dick at Project Oceanology and have fond memories of him. He was very entertaining dressed as Neptune on the bow of Envirolab going up the Connecticut River. Very memorable.
Ted Stack (Waterford class of 1976)
January 15, 2024
To the Conway family,
Mr Conway was a great person. In my experience he didn´t take the easy and convenient one size fits all approach to anything, he wanted to understand a situation or problem. He had a great influence on my life and the lives of others. My condolences, he will be missed by many.
Maria Fraser
January 15, 2024
My Condolences to the entire Conway family, especially to Kirsten, Scott, Patricia and Jean. My thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. May he Rest In Peace. God Bless.
Ann DerMarderosian
January 14, 2024
I learned so much about oceanography, beach erosion, and sand turtles from Dick.
He was a gifted teacher who generously gave some of his vacation time at Ocean Pointe to share his passions.
I feel fortunate to have known such a true gentleman and to have been touched by his kindness.
May he Rest in Peace.
An Ocean Pointe friend, Ann DerMarderosian
Jim Musco
January 14, 2024
To the family of Dick Conway. So sorry for your loss. Dick was a friend and colleague for many years. He was a great man and a great teacher. The students loved him. Rest in peace my friend.
Jim Musco, Waterford High School.
Teresa Dyer Johnson
January 14, 2024
Mr. Conway was my Earth Science teacher at WHS and he made learning science interesting and fun. I have thought and spoke of him fondly over the years and will continue to do so. We have lost a great educator. My sincere condolences to his family.
Julie Parmegiani
January 13, 2024
Dick had many friends at Ocean Pointe who adored him. He generously offered his time to the owners and the Activities Department with his various well attended mini lectures about waves or erosion or beaches. Both children and adults enjoyed these classes. We will all miss his gentle and kind presence at the resort.
May his family find peace soon knowing how much we all appreciated this kind and gentle soul.
May he rest in peace.
Julie Parmegiani
20 year OP Board member....and friend
Bill Spellman
January 13, 2024
My condolences to the Conway family. Mr Conway was one of my favorite teachers at Waterford HS. He had a great way of connecting with people with his kind and genuine personality. I can´t pass by an eroded hillside today without remembering the pictures from his travels that he would bring into class to show us how erosion worked in nature.
I always enjoyed talking with him and Mr C as I went into games at WHS over the years. Two of the best guys ever!
Mickey and Irene Weiss
January 13, 2024
Dear Jean and Conway family,
We are deeply saddened that Dick has passed away. He was a wonderful friend, colleague, and teacher. Dick´s contributions to Project O as a founder, summer teacher institute instructor, and supporter, were innumerable and invaluable. His advice and opinions were very fair-minded and thoughtful. He epitomized the "work hard and play hard" ethic of our "old timers" crew. He generously shared his considerable knowledge and love of geology with his students of all ages and always with a great sense of humor. We could almost always depend on Dick to identify some rock or mineral we encountered but if he got stumped he would tell us it was a "leaverite, leave-`er-right there, I don´t know what it is".
He will be greatly missed.
Love,
Irene and Mickey Weiss
Carolyn Hobbs Miller
January 13, 2024
Deep condolences to the family. I was in the class of 67. Mr. Conway was a very special teacher of Science. He made sure we understood all in Science. He was a special teacher. Carolyn Hobbs Miller
Nancy Burdick
January 13, 2024
So sorry Jean to hear of Dick`s passing. My sympathies to you and your family.A life well lived.
Joan Appleby Maison
January 12, 2024
I graduated in 1970 and remember Mr. Conway as one of my favorite teachers
I recall going out on the football field to study the stars and to a quarry to look for geodes and other rocks
Such a fun time. He was loved
Constance Murphy
January 12, 2024
Mr. Conway was my Earth Science teacher. He was kind and funny and loved his subject matter. He had his students come to the high school one night so we could look at the sky. I babysat for his children and remembered the beautiful geodes above the fireplace. My condolences to the family. Connie Clemens Murphy
Mary Reed Deus
January 12, 2024
Mr. Conway was at the top of my list of favorite teachers. I graduated WHS in 1976. My favorite class was Earth Science because of him! Remember the Yazoo!
Greg Wilkinson
January 12, 2024
Please accept my deepest sympathies.
George Blahun
January 12, 2024
I am so sorry to hear of My Conway's passing. He was the best science teacher I had in all of my years in the Waterford school system. He was also one of the nicest people I've known who truly cared about the welfare of his students. His sincere and compassionate approach developed my interest in science into a lifelong passion. I think about him often and will never forget his influence on my life.
Mike Graner
January 12, 2024
Dear Jean and family:
I want to express my condolences to you on the passing of my good friend Dick. When I served as the principal of Waterford high school for a decade, I had the great privilege of working with Dick and frequently benefited from his wise advice.
Dick was a truly outstanding teacher and shared his passion for science, especially oceanography, with his many grateful students. He had a great sense of purpose with his teaching and always made sure that his classes understood the importance of the lessons he was presenting.
I loved chatting with him about education, and we often spoke about his beloved family. The pride and respect that he had for his children was inspiring. Dick had a very sharp mind and great sense of humor, which I greatly enjoyed.
Dick and your family will remain in my daily prayers; he was a huge influence in my life as a colleague, mentor, and friend.
Sincerely,
Mike Graner
Susan Strong
January 12, 2024
So sad to hear of the passing of Mr. Conway. He was my science teacher at Waterford and got me hooked on Project Oceanology. He always had a smile on his face and was the best teacher ever. Please accept my condolences to his family and friends.
Sue (Wallace) Strong
The Christensen Family, East Lyme
January 12, 2024
He was a great guy and dedicated to the kids at Waterford. He loved Waterford High so much, he kept up his contact by selling tickets at basketball games with other retired teachers. He truly cared about the kids at Waterford High, and beyond. He had a life well lived, and will be dearly missed.
Thomas C. Kelly
January 12, 2024
I knew of Mr. Conway when I was in high school but never knew what it was to be one of his students. However, I came to know his patient manner and his soft-spoken kindness as I wandered through the hallways of yesteryear. Over the decades, I ran into him from time to time, and he always went out of his way to say hello, share a memory, and laugh. He was lovely fellow, and I am saddened by the news of his passing.
Leo Pietila
January 12, 2024
I was saddened to hear about Mr. Conway's passing. I am a 1977 graduate of WHS. Mr. Conway was my teacher for a few classes. He was my Homeroom Teacher for all four years of high school. Great Teacher! RIP Mr. Conway, Leo Pietila
Nancy Rupert
January 11, 2024
I taught at Waterford High School with Dick and his wonderful sense of humor is what I will remember the most. Departments used to host a faculty breakfast monthly. When it was the science departments turn to decorate the faculty room his use of anatomy for a punch bowl was hysterical! He also was involved in the `stuffed squirrel´ showing up in the most bizarre places. I loved his wit and positive outlook on life. He was one of the good ones!! My prayers and thoughts go to the family. Nancy Rupert
David J Morrison
January 10, 2024
Mr. Conway was always a favorite teacher for many students. He was a good natured, caring teacher. I became reacquainted with Mr. Conway at St. Mary's Church in New London, where he was the same great guy. My condolences to Mrs. Conway, Patty, Mark, and Tim.
Kathleen Barry
January 10, 2024
Mr. Conway was a wonderful and engaging teacher. I´ll always remember his great bonus questions and how he used humor to teach us. My deepest sympathy Tim and family.
Kathy Barry
Chris Cassidy
January 8, 2024
Dick was an awesome guy, and an outstanding teacher. He was, and will remain a great role model for thousands of his students, including me.
Connie
January 6, 2024
I was fortunate to know Dick at Project Oceanology. With dedication, he brought knowledge, enthusiasm and fun to the program. Peace and love to his family.
Jeff Turner
January 5, 2024
Dick Conway was a special guy, teacher, and mentor. I had the opportunity to run into Dick at a social function a little while ago and we had the chance to get caught up. Same presence, same class. Gold doesn't tarnish over time. I will miss him.
Scott Brailey
January 4, 2024
My deepest condolences to Mr Conway´s family. A great teacher and a great man
Greg Wilkinson
January 4, 2024
Please accept my deepest sympathies.
Bill Simons
January 4, 2024
Dick Conway was an excellent teacher and a wonderful advocate for students' welfare.
I always thought of him as a friend.
Rest in Peace Mister Conway.
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