06/03/2026
Slainte: A Family Remembers Their Father
By Christine D'Alessandro
While an “Irish goodbye” refers to a silent, imperceptible exit from a party, there was nothing quiet about the Conway family’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration—or the farewell that inspired it.
With almost all 24 family members in attendance, the party included food, laughter, and t-shirts featuring the face of beloved family patriarch John “Jack” Francis Conway. The gathering was joyful and lively—a perfect way to honor a man who meant so much to his family.
“My father loved St. Patrick’s Day,” Rose Cupo shared from her Northfield home, where the party was held. “He passed away in August, at 93 years old, and this is our first St. Patrick’s without him.”
As his four children gathered to share their favorite memories of Jack, the laughter continued, along with a clear picture of the legacy he left behind.
☘️ Knowledgable Jack
Characterized as a walking encyclopedia, Jack Conway took great pride in his knowledge of history. As his family likes to say, he was the Google of his time.
“I think the thing I miss the most about him is being able to call him up with any question,” Rose shares. She is the youngest of four children to Jack and Carmen Conway. Michelle Diaz of EHT is the oldest, followed by Therese Sommerville and John Conway, Jr. Their mother, Carmen, passed away in 2020.
“Our parents were married in 1961, and my mother was the love of his life,” shares Michelle. “They went on to have four children, twelve grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren, and I’ll never forget seeing him meet his first great-grandchild.”
Jack’s own history began in Newark on October 17, 1931. He was raised in Belleville (Essex County) and graduated from Saint Benedict’s Preparatory School in 1949. He went on to serve in the Korean War from 1950 to 1954. Later, he worked for Jersey Testing, inspecting major bridges in the greater New York metro area. He also served as a Corrections Officer at the Essex County Penitentiary, where he rose to the rank of Lieutenant before retiring in 1994.
☘️Faithful Jack
Jack’s extensive knowledge of history was only matched by his deep faith, and his Sunday routine rarely wavered. First was Mass at St. Gianna Beretta Molla Parish in Northfield, and then to Rose’s home for breakfast. He’d often sneak in a nap before heading to dinner at Michelle’s home in their shared town of EHT.
“My father’s faith was very important to him,” Therese explains. “He was always praying for our family—all 24 of us. And he never missed a devotion or holy day of obligation.”
In addition to a strong commitment to his faith, Jack was also loyal to two sports teams that didn’t always make it easy: the Jets and the Mets (the latter only came after the Brooklyn Dodgers headed west).
Jack also enjoyed a round of golf with his only son, John Jr.—another occasion that demonstrated his strong values, specifically honesty and integrity.
“My dad played golf up until 92, and he refused to ever take a mulligan,” John Jr. laughs. “There’s a maximum number of strokes per hole in golf, and I’d always put down a 10 whenever he’d go over it. He’d cross it out and put in a 14, or whatever it was. He thought anything else would be dishonest.”
☘️An Irish Goodbye
As the family gathered to celebrate their first St. Patrick’s Day without Jack, they agreed to continue their March reunions in his memory for whoever can attend. They will also continue to share his stories, his wisdom, and his values with a fourth generation who will never have to Google: What does a life well-lived look like?
As was his custom, Jack Conway knew the answer. ☘️
