Gerard L. Conway Sr.

Conway, Gerard L. Sr.
ALBANY - Gerard L. Conway Sr. passed away peacefully on August 24, 2025 at the age of 84. He had a long, full life.
Gerry was a true Albany man, born at Brady Maternity Hospital and raised in the Pine Hills section. There were always enough Conways and kids in the neighborhood for a game of baseball, basketball or football. They all walked to school (uphill both ways, as Gerry told it) at Vincentian Institute (VI), with the group growing larger as children joined who lived along the way. Gerry started out in grammar school at VI in the "Glass School," a remodeled greenhouse, and graduated in 1958 from VI high school, where he was an excellent student and outstanding athlete. Many of Gerry's lifelong friendships were formed in that neighborhood and at VI.
He went on to study and to play football at Yale University. Gerry graduated from Yale in 1962, and he was valedictorian of his class in 1965 at Albany Law School. Upon his law school graduation, Gerry was honored with an appointment as a confidential law assistant to the Appellate Division, Third Department.
Gerry practiced law as a partner at DeGraff, Foy, Conway, Holt-Harris & Mealey, and then at Rice & Conway, the firm he established with his former law partner and close friend, John Carter Rice. Gerry was a well regarded government affairs attorney, who represented professional and trade associations in matters before the New York State Legislature and State agencies. He also served as an Assistant Examiner to the New York State Board of Law Examiners, participating in drafting and grading Bar Exams.
For the last 25 years of his career Gerry was Director of Government Affairs for the Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY), which had been one of his clients at both law firms. He was always much in demand as a speaker at MSSNY conferences and other events. Gerry enjoyed an audience, and public speaking gave him the opportunity to display his mastery of the topic, his big personality and his booming voice. During the time Gerry represented MSSNY the practice of medicine and related disciplines and the economics of the entire health care system were changing dramatically. Gerry was highly effective in navigating those changes on behalf of his clients, tirelessly serving the interests of the medical community and patients, and successfully advocating for the passage of legislation that will have lasting impact on the delivery of health care.
During his years at MSSNY Gerry formed many close friendships with people within MSSNY leadership and on his staff. Perhaps the role Gerry enjoyed most in his professional life was acting as a mentor, providing guidance and helping to find career opportunities for many young people, including friends, colleagues and Bar Exam candidates. He genuinely enjoyed "coaching" them and seeing them succeed.
At the time of his retirement, Gerry was recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award by Albany Law School, which he was honored to accept, and which he proudly displayed.
Gerry enjoyed any celebration with family and friends, and his favorites were Thanksgiving and Christmas. He was a long time member of the Fort Orange Club, where he enjoyed many social and business gatherings. For many years he was also a member of Albany Country Club, which he especially enjoyed for the views of Albany and the surrounding area from the course and clubhouse. Although Gerry did not play often enough to maintain a low handicap, he had a long drive, and even managed to hit a hole-in-one on the ninth hole at Albany Country Club, a feat he was sure to tell anyone about who mentioned golf. His community of friends and parishioners at Christ the King Church in Guilderland was a great source of support and enjoyment. And he relaxed every summer in Kennebunkport, Maine, at the historic Colony Hotel.
Fundamentally, though, it was his family that gave Gerry true joy, growing up in a large extended family, being blessed with five children and their spouses, sharing his life with Helen, and having six wonderful grandchildren.
Gerry leaves his loving family, his wife Helen; his children Gerard Jr. (Jill), Joseph (Jane), Michele Essex (Stephen), James "Jason" (Kathleen) and Christopher (Taylor); and his grandchildren, Lucas and Zachary Essex, Gerard III "Finn" and Annabel Conway, and Henry and Oliver Conway.
Also surviving are his siblings, Elaine, Edward, Gayle Doyle (Paul), Mary Lucy Cook (Charles), Rita Seymour (David), Laurie (Richard Platkin), Christopher (Valentina) and Brian. Many nieces, nephews and cousins also survive.
Gerry was predeceased by his parents, William F. Conway and Elaine Rose (Lawrence) Conway; his nephew, Charles Elijah Cook; and four of his brothers, whom he greatly missed, Dr. William Conway (Barbara), John, Lawrence (Grace) and Thomas (Kathryn).
A Memorial Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, September 26, 2025, at 11 a.m., at Christ the King Church in Guilderland. Friends may call on the family at the Church prior to Mass, between 9 and 11 a.m. Interment will be at St. Agnes Cemetery at a later date.
The family asks that those who want to honor Gerry in a special way, consider donating to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, donations@michaeljfox.org or P.O. Box 5014, Hagerstown Md. 21741.
To leave a message for the family, please visit www.McveighFuneralHome.com