William Barret Conway

William B. Conway, 84, who as CEO of a leading civil engineering firm, was the Principal-In-Charge for the design of the Greater New Orleans #2 Bridge, died on Monday evening in Ochsner Hospital. The cause was congestive heart failure. Mr. Conway was a partner in Modjeski and Masters, a national engineering firm, from 1969 until his retirement in 2007, having served as CEO since the firm incorporated in 1992 through 2004. His career included many notable milestones and accomplishments, particularly in long-span bridge design. He was the Principal-in-Charge for eight award winning Mississippi River Crossing projects, including the Interstate I-10 Bridge in Baton Rouge, the Interstate 310 Bridge at Luling and the Greater New Orleans #2 Bridge, which was the second longest cantilever span in the United States. Later projects directed by Mr. Conway included the seismic retrofit of the steel portions of the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge in California and the widening of the Huey P. Long Bridge over the Mississippi. Mr. Conway received many engineering awards including the Louisiana Lifetime Achievement Award and the prestigious John A. Roebling Medal for lifetime achievement in bridge engineering. Mr. Conway was active in various New Orleans charities. He served as Chairman of the Board of Trinity Episcopal School from 1978 to 1980 where all seven of his children attended and as Treasurer of the vestry for many years at Trinity Church. He also was involved in the founding of the St Thomas Community Health Clinic in New Orleans. He was a member of numerous New Orleans social clubs and Carnival organizations, which he thoroughly enjoyed. Mr. Conway also served until recently as a Trustee of the West Chop Club in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, where he spent many summers with his extended family, dear friends and his beloved boat of many decades, the Blue Jay. William B. Conway was born in Southampton, New York on January 15, 1931. He was the son of Edmund V. Conway, Jr. and the former Dorothy Brandes, both originally from St. Louis, Missouri and ultimately Montauk, New York. Mr. Conway graduated from Dartmouth College in 1952 where he was known as "Bing" for his resemblance to the famous singer Bing Crosby. He received a Masters of Science in civil engineering from the Thayer School of Engineering in 1954 and then joined the faculty for an additional year. In 1955, he met his future wife, Florance ("Bonnie") Scott on the slopes of Stowe, Vermont and they were married in 1956. After serving as a Seabee in the US Navy at Quonset Point, Rhode Island for two years, Mr. Conway joined Modjeski and Masters in 1957 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He moved with his young family to New Orleans in 1961, fell in love with the city and made it his home. Mr. Conway was recently pre-deceased by his brother E. Virgil Conway and is survived by his wife, Bonnie, and seven children who adored him: William B. Conway, Jr. of Potomac Maryland, Robert S. Conway of Edina, Minnesota, Peter J. Conway of Charlotte, North Carolina, Edward B. Conway of Darien, Connecticut, Elizabeth C. Crawford of New Orleans, Laura C. Williams of New Orleans and Eleanor C. Edwards of Darien, Connecticut. Mr. Conway also had 19 grandchildren, who affectionately referred to their beloved grandfather as "Big." Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend a memorial service at Trinity Episcopal Church, 1329 Jackson Avenue, on Monday, December 21, 2015. The service begins at 1:00 p.m. with visitation beginning 11:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Trinity Episcopal School, Trinity Episcopal Church, or the charity of your choice. To sign and view the guest book, please visit www.lakelawnmetairie.com.