Oz Legacies

It is hard to believe that it was twenty years ago, February 2nd, 1994, when I lost my mentor, and Oswego lost one of its most distinguished citizens, in the person of John O'Connor Conway.

John was laid to rest after a memorable mass and tribute at his home parish of St. Paul's. I was honored to be asked to deliver the eulogy, and courtesy of Dr. Lou Iorizzo, current Oswego historian. That eulogy is available on the Internet HERE for those who wish to read more about his life and times.

For me, the memory of having worked side by side with, and under the tutelage of a great man like John O'Connor Conway, is one that I value and deeply cherish. Those years left an indelible mark on me, and in many ways shaped the person I would and have become. His many accomplishments live on, and he is warmly remembered, especially during the gatherings of the Fitzgibbons clan, to whom he is forever connected, having married Mary Fitzgibbons Conway, known affectionately as ""Meem" . His spirit also endures in the person of his talented and definitive daughter Ellen Conway Kelly, and his twin grandchildren, Conway and Louise.

I first met Mary Fitzgibbons Conway when she was the school nurse at St. Mary's School. A trip to the nurses office there was always delightful, no matter the malady, given Mary's sunny disposition. She married John a bit later in life, and although he was twenty years her senior, that mattered little in their remarkable relationship, which was filled with joy, adventure, and a little politics thrown in. Their crowning joint achievement was the birth of their daughter Ellen on March 9, 1965. Ellen's equestrian interests were a delight to both of them, and her decision to attend law school well after her graduation from St. Mary's in South Bend, Indiana ( Notre Dame) was also a plus.

I won't repeat the stories here that I told in John's eulogy, as they are still available to read, but I will add a couple of new ones.

I was privileged to accompany John on many trips to Albany and elsewhere to attend state Democratic meetings. In addition to serving three terms as Mayor and as City Attorney for Mayor Ralph Shapiro, John was the Oswego County Democratic Chair for twenty years, from 1956 to 1976, when I succeeded him in that position.

I remember him telling me on the way to a meeting at the Dewitt Clinton hotel in Albany, that the first person we would see there at the corner of the bar would be Charlie Torch , and that he would be the last person we would see in the same spot when we left. Sure enough, John was right. Charlie was an attorney and a lobbyist for the Teamsters, and a kind of political hanger on type with big bug eyes and a hollow leg. He even ran for office once with his campaign slogan being, "Honesty is no substitute for experience!" Charlie Torch was a legendary character in Albany politics, and John knew him well. He also introduced me to Albany Mayor Erastus Corning, and legendary Albany County Chair Dan O'Connell. These names are familiar to any longtime Albany politicos and their legends are chronicled in William Kennedy's book " Oh, Albany!"

Thanks to John, I met many of them, and these acquaintances and the resultant stories I could tell served me well when I became State Co- Chair of the party myself, spending lots of time in Albany and New York City.

When I ran for the Assembly in 1974, I think John was just as excited as I was about our prospects for victory. He would show up often at our campaign headquarters above Wayne's drug store, in s building he owned and "rented" gratis to the Democratic Party. We came close, but we didn't win, and John made sure I got appointed to a "session" job with the NYS Assembly after the loss. That job was a godsend for me and my growing family as I graduated law school that May, and commuted to Albany once a week by train. I earned enough money in that job that I didn't have to work during the summer, so I could study full time for the bar. I passed it, and then got a job working in John's law firm with Mike Shanley, and as they say, the rest is history.

I am forever grateful to John Conway for helping to lift me up by my bootstraps, and cheering me on my way in life. He was as good a friend as he was a boss. They just don't make them better than John Conway.

Actually, there are very few individuals left of John Conway's standing. He was a true gentleman, a lace curtain Irishman with a respect for those of us with more shanty backgrounds, Harvard educated, well mannered, and a man of more deeds than words. His memory lives on , his legacy endures, and his inspiration still lingers in the hearts of those who were blessed with the pleasure of his company.