Lawrence Martin Conley

Lawrence Martin Conley

February 6, 1951 - July 14, 2011

Larry Conley was born on the sixth of February 1951 in Auburn, New York and died on the fourteenth of July 2011, age 60, in St. Francis Hospice, Honolulu, Hawaii. He was the son of James Raymond Conley and Mary Elizabeth (Ryan) Conley. He is survived by his mother of Orlando, Florida, brother Peter Conley of Tonawanda, New York, and step-sister Elaine Brodock of Binghamton, New York. He was preceded in death by sister Barbara Conley.

Larry graduated from Mount Carmel High School in Auburn in 1969. Following graduation he traveled to New Orleans, Louisiana. In 1971, while in New Orleans he enlisted in the United States Air Force and was assigned to basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas.

While in the Air Force he earned a Traffic Safety Certificate, which, to his friends, must seem a little ironic in that Larry was never seen behind the wheel of a car. In July of 1972 Larry completed the Combat Crew Training Squadron's grueling Jungle Survival Course at Homestead Air Force Base in Florida - an experience he never forgot. With a Top Secret cryptographic security clearance, he was assigned to service in Nakornpanom, Thailand during the Vietnam War. He attained the rank of Sergeant in 1972 and was honorably discharged in 1974. In 1975 he was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation from the Secretary of Defense for his "humanitarian efforts in the resettlement of refugees from Indochina".

Continuing his humanitarian-inspired work Larry began working at the Hansen's Disease Settlement in Kalaupapa on the island of Molokai, Hawaii. Following this, he transferred to the Mental Health Division of the Hawaii State Department of Health and a few years later he joined the Hawaii State Department of Planning and Economic Development (later the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism) where he served as Personnel Management Specialist, Contracts Administrator, Budget Analyst, and Administrative Services Officer. He also worked at various agencies administratively attached to the Department, such as The Hawaii Community Development Authority and the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

Upon retirement at the end of 2007, Larry worked on the 2010 U. S. Census and later as a contractor for the City and County of Honolulu Department of Wastewater Management.

Larry's many friends recall his generosity (he was often generous to a fault), his sense of humor, and, not least, some of his eccentricities. If you were seen with Larry in downtown Honolulu, people would later stop and ask about him because his always determined walking pace and ever-present baseball cap, which almost covered his uniquely combed red hair, made him a well-known figure on the city streets.

A lifelong sports fanatic with an encyclopedic memory for batting averages and team line-ups, he actively supported local baseball teams: first the Hawaii Islanders, then UH Rainbows and the Winter Baseball League, attending as many games as he could find time for. His life long Major League passion was the Philadelphia Phillies. He also admired the 76ers in the NBA. In the fall, he followed the Green Bay Packers, and Notre Dame football got his complete attention every season.

He was a devotee of both American and world history, and was a voracious reader; Larry might have found it appropriate that he left this world on the day of the storming of the Bastille as he entered it sharing the birthday of President Ronald Reagan - of whom he was no admirer.

In 2006 Larry was diagnosed with melanoma and was told that the cancer would likely return in a year and a half. He was spared that immediate sentence but in five years it did return with fatal results. He said that he felt those extra years were "borrowed time" for which he was grateful.

A devout Roman Catholic who attended St. Patrick's Church in Honolulu, Larry passed away with the same quiet dignity with which he lived his all too brief life. The devoted and caring staff of St. Francis Hospice asked about Larry. They wanted to know who he was to have so many people visiting him. His friends could only answer - a very special guy and solid friend. Very special.

To Larry’s friends:

Brilliant, funny, generous, good guy, friend to all. These are words and phrases I have heard since arriving here (in Hawaii) that Larry’s friends used to describe him. I can see that is true of his friends as well. I am so happy to know how well loved and cared for Larry has been while living here all these years.

As brothers growing up, we were very different, but we played a lot together with the neighbor kids, got on each other’s nerves, and ganged up on our older sister too. We spent many years out of contact, whiich I regret, but over the past 12 years we rebuilt our relationship, visited several times, and always had good fun and laughs together. I see that he also has had this along with all of you.

I am his family by design. You are his family by fate and choice—what a wonderful fate he had.

Love and aloha to all.

Peter