Daniel A. Conway, Jr.

August 14, 1958 - December 7, 2023

SAN DIEGO —

Dan Conway was beloved by all he met. A man’s man, a child’s best friend, a warm, loving father, husband, grandfather, uncle and friend to all. His loss at the age of 65 on December 7, 2023, coming after a failed lung transplant, shocked those who knew him as a pillar of strength.

Born in Haverhill MA on August 14, 1958, the youngest of Lillian and Daniel Conway’s five children, he was a stellar athlete in football, baseball, basketball and track. His father always felt, with good reason, that his best sport by far was baseball. When he lost one eye in a practice mishap with the Buffalo Bills, he also lost a baseball career.

Dan played football for four years at Boston College, where he won All-east honors several times as a running back.

At BC he developed brotherly relationships with a dozen roommates and dear friends that last to this day.

Whatever Dan did, he did with great energy, warmth and humor. He often labelled friends, even parents of friends, with unattractive nicknames they would cherish for a lifetime. He divided youngsters into groups and they would scream, “I want to be a muckworm - or a maggot”. As a teacher/ coach he broke every rule and regulation but was so loved by students, parents and administrators that he had carte blanche. His motivational half-time orations would make Knute Rockne envious.

Dan was a performer. Whether changing costumes several times per day as a child, dressing as a princess or cheerleader for costume parties, rendering a showstopping karaoke edition of RESPECT in falsetto or starring in a sporting event, this lovable giant was in his element while performing.

For a short time, Dan contemplated becoming a professional wrestler. He didn’t. But this huge man, capable of bench-pressing 500 pounds, usually lost wrestling matches to his adoring six grandchildren, one tiny girl even broke his rib, and he smiled about it for a month.

Not many were aware of Dan’s encyclopedic knowledge of Jackie

Gleason’s “Honeymooner” series, episode by episode. That talent, matched with his playful foolishness, ad-lib comedy, and innate knowledge of human behavior, turned him into a highly successful real estate entrepreneur, selling well more than one hundred homes every year.

Pattie and Dan’s love affair was beautiful and strong. Dan adored his wife of 32 years. Pretty Pattie and her sister, Gloria Henson, spent months at his bedside this past year. Dan will be dearly missed by Pretty Pattie, children Dan, Thad, Taylor, their spouses, six grandchildren, Teagan, T.J., Jessie James, Joelle, Sage, baby Haven and his four siblings, Mike, Pat, Susan, Sheilah and their spouses.