We have laid to rest one of our dear friends, Mark Conway, and for those who know Mark I am posting some miscellaneous photographs, plus the eulogy I delivered at his funeral service.  The pictures are in random order, but in looking through the pictures, there seems to be recurring themes of food, beverage, golf, and laughter.  And love.  That sounds about right.

Eulogy:

Mark Conway – April 16, 2024

Recently there was a tear in the fabric of the universe, as one of our dear friends took flight.  Let’s use this moment to celebrate the life of devoted husband, father, brother, uncle, and friend Mark Conway.

Mark had such a huge impact on so many of us, over the span of his too-short life, from his adored wife Mary, James and Ciara, Cassie, Sue, Brian, Blair, Brendon, family, and friends.

The Conway’s are not immune from loss.  Mark and his sister Sue lost both parents, their father James many years ago as an American hero who saved lives by ditching his failed fighter into an embankment in East Boston, and their mother Mary many years later.

To get a sense for the person, after college Mark worked for a non-profit under the Department of Mental Health where he helped place mentally challenged individuals into jobs, and later worked at a rehab facility placing quadriplegic men into jobs.  Who takes on jobs like those?  Someone with an enormous heart.

Partly for that reason, I asked Mark to be my best man at our wedding 36 years ago.  Mark also served as best man for Mead McGuire and then once again for Steve Campbell, and I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised to learn there are others he has served in that role.

He has impacted us all in a myriad of ways.  We have all been drawn in by Mark’s gravitational pull, like moths to a light.  With his absolute love of family foremost, he had so many diverse interests, from goat yoga, learning Italian, love of music, a voracious reader, and a willingness to explore any subject, he was ever the student.

But Mark was a dichotomy.  In his work life, with 3 master’s degrees, no one could be more caring, knowledgeable, and respectful, meeting with senior executives, chancellors, and presidents of some of the most prestigious colleges and universities in the world.

The Mark we knew could also be a complete idiot, with no filter, and an uncanny ability to say wildly inappropriate shit.  No one, to my knowledge, has broken more bones.  For Mark, a good idea could be made into a great idea with the addition of fireworks.  Or a Mai Tai.  Or both.

Yet we are all better for having Mark in our lives. Let’s make sure we impress upon James and Ciara our unconditional love of their father.  And let us all be joyous and thankful that Mark was in our lives, even if for too short a time.

Lastly, a message to Mark from his friends:  Mark, bagpipes at your funeral?   Are you shitting me?  What, they didn’t have accordions?  Mark, no one likes bagpipes.

We love you, Mark.