John "Jack" Joseph Conway Sr., age 80, of Memphis, Tennessee passed away on Wednesday, June 8, 2022. Jack was born July 12, 1941, in Chicago, Illinois, to William Conway and Edna Herbst Conway. He graduated from Kelly High School, Chicago. Jack served in the U.S. Air Force. He received his Associate Degree in respiratory care practice from Central YMCA Community College. He was the Clinical Director for 14 years of the Respiratory Care Department at West Side VA Hospital, Chicago.
After retiring, Jack moved to Memphis is 2004 and subsequently became very involved in Carnival Memphis. He was honored to be past King (2012) and Chairman (2014) of Grand Krewe of Sphinx, in addition to a variety of board positions. He also was the Sergeant-at-Arms of the UNICO Memphis Chapter for 8 years and presently Treasurer of the UNICO Memphis Foundation.
Jack greatly enjoyed gardening. He was a Master Gardener and a volunteer at both the Memphis Botanic Garden and Dixon Gallery and Gardens. He also previously served as a 2-term commissioner for Memphis City Beautiful. During a residence in Champaign, Illinois, Jack became an avid collector of antique fire trucks and fire fighting memorabilia, where Jack still proudly owned and stored 2 fire engines and 1 ladder truck. Jack had many hobbies, which also included a lifelong interest in photography. He won several photography awards and served as a paid-freelance photographer for several Chicago newspapers. As a philanthropist, he was also associated with a number of charitable organizations, such as the St. Vincent de Paul Society and the Haiti Mission, at Immaculate Conception Cathedral Parish. He was a lifetime member of the University of Memphis Alumni Association. His disabilities were served by two faithful Pomeranians, Roxie and Mia. Jack was well traveled and obtained his dual Irish citizenship.
Jack is survived by his wife of 36 years, Dr. Chrisann Schiro-Geist; children, John J. Conway, Jr. (Niti), Denise Epstein (Lee), Christine Balesteri, Patricia Madaras (Gary), Niki Conway (Maribeth), Jennifer Diprizio (Joe Krolik), and Daniel Diprizio (Toni); grandchildren, Calvin Melvin LaCombe (Ashley), Brieanna Balesteri, Sean Conway, Juliana Conway, Felicia Diprizio, Kayla Diprizio, Theresa Diprizio, Evie Madaras, Kinzey Madaras, and Maxine Preston; and great-grandchildren, Miabella Balesteri and Leah LaCombe. He is also survived by his sister, Renee Rich (Bob). Jack was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Clifford, Rolland, Rogers, and Corlis Eiermann and William Conway.
The family will receive friends on Thursday, June 30 from six o'clock until eight o'clock in the evening, at Memphis Funeral Home - Poplar Chapel, 5599 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38119. The Memorial Mass will be held on Friday, July 1 beginning at one o'clock in the afternoon, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 1965 Central Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee, 38104 . If you are unable to attend physically, please attend virtually via https://www.facebook.com/iccathedral There will be a reception to follow.
Donations in Jack's honor should be sent to Carnival Memphis Children's Charities or UNICO Memphis Foundation Roxie Fund. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MemphisFuneralPoplar.com for the Conway family.
