Obituary of Robert Clement Conroy

Robert Clement Conroy "Ideal Bonaventure Man" Robert Clement Conroy of 3121 Cranberry Rd. died Saturday (January 4, 2003) in the Olean General Hospital from complications due to pneumonia. Born June 11, 1924 in Rochester, NY he was the son of Michael and Anna Casey Conroy. On April 11, 1964 in Buffalo, NY he married Patricia A. Conroy who survives. Mr. Conroy was a 1942 graduate of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Rochester. He enrolled in St. Bonaventure University in 1942 and subsequently joined the US Army where he served in WWII until 1945. He participated in 5 separate battles and campaigns and received 5 battle stars and also a Normandy medal. Upon discharge he completed his Bachelor of Business Administration degree and graduated in 1948. It was in this year that the students of the college chose him as "The Ideal Bonaventure Man". He first worked for the Democrat and Chronicle newspaper in Rochester, then became employed in the alumni office of St. Bonaventure University in 1957. He served as the Director of Alumni for many years and also as the Director of Estate Planning. He also worked as the assistant to the president for community relations and upon his semi-retirement he served the university as a consultant. As a 50 plus year employee, he was known for his many accomplishments at the university including being the founder of the Devereux Club, receiving recognition "for most improvement in the annual fund" by the American Alumni Council (now CASE), as the first person to raise over $1 million, in cash, for the University, as the producer of 4 television programs on estate planning - programmed in every major market (including WABC-TV, New York) over commercial stations as free public affairs presentations, and as one who constructed an alumni reunion program that has been copied by many other institutions. He is also noted for having started the Scholarship Luncheon Program, was cited by Group I, Trust Division, New York State Bankers and was named the St. Bonaventure University "Alumnus of the Year" in 1961. He was a member of St. Bonaventure Church, the Allegany American Legion Post 892 and the John O. Sullivan Irish Association of Ireland. Surviving besides his wife are 6 children Brian (Madonna) Conroy of Atlanta, Ga., Kathleen (Richard) Ingalls of Madison, Ohio, Casey (Jo) Conroy of York, Pa., Michael (Nichole) Conroy of Olean, Christopher (Danielle Binder) Conroy of Rochester, NY and Dan Conroy of Danville, Va. ; 6 grandchildren Joshua Ingalls, Shane Ingalls Lucas Ingalls, Patrick Conroy, Ryan Conroy and Sarah Conroy; and several nephews and cousins and a sister-in-law Hazel Conroy of Rochester. He was predeceased by 1 sister Mary Ostrander and 4 brothers John Conroy, Gerard Conroy, James Conroy and Joseph Conroy. The family will receive friends at the St. Bonaventure University Chapel today from 7-9pm and Tuesday from 2-4 & 7-9pm. A concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday (January 8, 2003) at 10:00am. Burial will be in St. Bonaventure Cemetery. Memorials, if desired, may be made to the previously established Robert C. Conroy Scholarship Fund at St. Bonaventure University. Arrangements are under the direction of the Casey, Halwig & Hartle Funeral Home, Olean.