April 2013
William Patrick Conway, F99081, who served as FMCA national vice president, Northeast Area, from 2003 to 2007, passed away on Thursday, January 31, 2013, in Brooksville, Florida. He was 71.
Bill was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, on August 21, 1941, and was raised in the same area. He earned a degree in industrial engineering at Western New England College in Springfield and worked as an industrial engineer at Pratt & Whitney for 35 years, retiring in 1997. He married Patricia Martin on November 9, 1963, and the couple had two children, Christine and William.
Once their children had grown and moved out in the mid-1980s, the Conways began to feel the effects of empty-nest syndrome. A friend passed along several copies of Family Motor Coaching magazine for them to look at, and they began investigating the motorhome lifestyle. They contacted Buddy Gregg Motorhomes and were sent pictures of several motorhomes the dealership had for sale. The Conways decided to purchase a preowned Allegro, the first of four Allegros they would own during their traveling years.
The Conways joined FMCA in 1988 and became active members of numerous chapters, including the Mt. Laurel Travelers, Northeast Pacers, Northeast Quadrant-Croton, BRB, and Constitution Cruisers. Bill was elected treasurer of the Northeast Area Motorhome Association in 1998 and served four years in that capacity. He served a one-year term (2002-2003) as the group’s second vice president before being elected national vice president in 2003. During his time on FMCA’s Executive Board, Bill served on the Member Recruitment Committee (2003-2005), the Education Committee (2003-2004), and the Information Systems Committee (2004-2006).
When traveling for pleasure or as a chapter, area, or national FMCA representative, the Conways often had their grandchildren with them. Pat recalls a time when one member at a rally couldn’t stop laughing when he saw Bill come out of the motorhome with his “three ducklings in tow right behind.” The couple traveled extensively and met numerous people, building many lasting friendships along the way. Pat said their most memorable trip was an excursion out West with several friends. Highlights of the trip included stops in Yellowstone National Park and Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and experiencing Cheyenne Frontier Days.
Bill was a member of the volunteer fire brigade in Agawam, Massachusetts, for 20 years, and was treasurer and bingo bookkeeper for the Polish-American Club of Agawam. He loved sports and coached youth teams for six years while his children were growing up. He was an avid fan of the New York Yankees baseball team and the New York Giants football team. The couple operated a crafts (for the women) and baseball card (for the men) shop while living in Connecticut, an idea they discovered during one of their trips to Florida.
In addition to Pat, his wife of 49 years, Bill is survived by daughter Christine Pilbin (Walter); son William P. Conway; three sisters; a brother; and three grandchildren. Memorial donations in Bill’s name can be made to the American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association, or the National Kidney Foundation.