Dr. Valentine Henry Conway, B.Sc., M.D., FRCSC, ABO
November 10, 1945 – April 16, 2021
«Follow Your Heart»
Passed away peacefully in the presence of family at the age of 75 in St. John’s.
Val lived a wonderful, full and rewarding life. He was born in St. John’s to the late Dennis and Kathleen Conway and raised with his seven siblings: Estella (Doug) Lilly, Margaret (Ray) Robidoux, John (Andrea), James and the late Irene (John) Paradis, Frederick, and Dennis.
When his family relocated to Montreal in the early 1960s, Val chose to stay behind to finish his education. He attended St. Patrick’s Hall and Brother Rice High School before graduating from Memorial University. He went on to study medicine at Dalhousie University where he met the love of his life, Mary (nee MacNeil). They were married in 1970 and welcomed sons Christopher (1972), David (1973), and Sean (1976).
When Val graduated from medical school in 1974, he relocated with his family from Halifax to the south coast of Newfoundland to start a general practice. They first lived next to the clinic in Mose Ambrose before moving to English Harbour West. Val’s three years on the south coast with his young family were a defining period in his life. He fell in love with the people, places, and culture of this spectacular part of the world.
Val was accepted to a residency training program in ophthalmology at the University of Saskatchewan and spent three years in Saskatoon before finishing in 1980. This was followed by a fellowship in ophthalmology at McGill University in Montreal. Despite offers from across the country, he decided to «follow his heart» and return home to St. John’s in 1982. His years of practicing ophthalmology were busy but fulfilling. Val was a trailblazer in his field, and he influenced and guided many of the colleagues that followed him. He finished his career working in the office of his friend, Dr. Brett Williams, and he loved the staff there and the support from Brett and his wife Nicky. Throughout his life, Val pursued his various interests in music, travel, literature, learning, mentoring others and «verbal repartee», as he liked to call it.
Val leaves behind his loving wife Mary, sons Christopher (Lisa), David (Courtney), and Sean (Brook), along with his siblings and in-laws (Ray and Anita MacNeil, Max MacNeil and Bev Carter, Anne and Norm Leger, Jessie Butts and Bill and Sandy Mersch), cousin Richard (Mary) Bennett, other relatives and eight wonderful grandchildren (William, Ian, Pearce, Noah, Cole, Maia, Lia and Kaila). Many special and close friends too numerous to list, but including Allan and Lorraine Bambury, Don and Judy Fitzpatrick, George and Karen Furey, Michael and Diane Griffin and John Lacey. He was particularly close with his grandson Ian Conway, who visited him every summer, and whom he cherished dearly.
Val served on countless boards and committees throughout his career, including as a Director on the Board of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) from 1998 to 2002. He was a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Gold and Diamond Jubilee medals. He was also a Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery (Ophthalmology) at Memorial University’s Faculty of Medicine.
The family wishes to pass along its sincere thanks and gratitude to Dr. Bryan Curtis and to Dr. Alex Mathieson and all of the staff on 4 North B at the Health Sciences Centre for the exceptional care and attention that they provided.
In accordance with Val’s wishes, cremation has taken place. Please feel free to leave messages and share memories with the family on this webpage. There will be no visitation or memorial gathering until all of Val’s sons and family can return home to be together. Further details will be provided at that time. In lieu of flowers, please consider attending or supporting the South Coast Arts Festival, which takes place in St. Jacques, NL, each August (www.facebook.com/scafstjacques).
As many have kindly said with a smile, «they broke the mold when they made Val». His wonderful humour, insight and love will live on forever in our hearts and souls. So please join us in celebrating an exceptional life, very well lived as we say goodbye.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I –
I took the one less travelled by,
And that has made all the difference.
2021
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Dr Valentine Henry Conway BSc D FRCSC ABO 2021..
Décès pour la Ville: Torbay, Province: T-N