Continued Part III
1954 Fr. Conway Park May - According to Tom and Jim Griffin, “Scummy” Basin was filled-in during the early 1950’s. Jim returned from Korean War and remembers playing ball on the field. The basin was a part of the canal, and an area utilized as a ‘turn-around’ for boats (ships?). It was also a dangerous area for children who frequently played in the vicinity of the basin. After a few children drowned in this area neighborhood residents wanted the basin filled-in. The neighborhood was successful and the filled-in basin area became known as Fr. Conway Playfield (14.5 acres). The park was officially named by the City Council on May 11th, but presently there is no plaque or memorial to commemorate the event.
Even after death Fr. Conway reaches out to victims and family survivors of those who drowned.
The newspaper account of the original dedication, which took place in 1954. The report stated, “The Ohio Basin yesterday was dedicated as the Father Conway Playfield in tribute to a Buffalo priest who gave his life as a Navy Chaplain in World War II. About 5,000 persons witnessed the ceremony…”We dedicate here this field to the activities of the youth today as a means to strengthen them in their battle against the subversive enemies of our times…The children who play here, we hope and pray, will be guided by the spirit of Father Tom Conway, a truly great priest, a true and honest sportsman, a brave and loyal soldier-sailor of God to the very end.”
1997-99 Attempt to move Delaware Park Zoo to Conway Park.
In the fall of 1997, the Buffalo (NY) Zoo announced plans to relocate from its 125 year-old home in beautiful Delaware Park, to a site in a mixed residential/industrial area along the Buffalo River. This announcement provoked a firestorm of opposition, beginning in the Parkside neighborhood, where the existing zoo was located, and in the Old First Ward, site of the proposed new zoo. The opposition eventually coalesced into two new organizations, Save the Old First Ward and the Committee to Keep the Zoo in Delaware Park. Leaders from Save the Old First Ward joined the Committee worked collaboratively with the Committee to Keep the Zoo in Delaware Park.
September 2, 1999, the Buffalo Zoological Society announced its abandonment of a plan to relocate the Zoo to a site on the Buffalo River. If the move had been successful, there was a chance the name of Fr. Conway’s Park would have been at risk.
Structure within Conway Park named “Old First District Park.” Foreboding potential for losing the association of Fr. Conway’s name to the park. Those who mostly remember Fr. Conway are senior citizens, not the youth.
2001July, Captain Charles Butler McVay III was exonerated
August 2, 2001. An anniversary memorial mass organized by Thomas Griffin.
Sunday edition of the Republican-American (Waterbury, CT). The front page story was titled “A Candidate for Fame.” Excerpt from the article…
“A native son whose final days were spent dispensing hope to sailors in the shark-infested waters after the sinking of the USS Indianapolis on July 30, 1945, has been nominated to the city’s Hall of Fame. There is a good chance the all-but-forgotten Lt. Thomas Michael Conway will gain long over-due recognition and make the city proud. A decision to add the Catholic priest’s name to the roster of 59 others will be made in March by the Hall of Fame Committee, which operates under the Silas Brown Library Board of Agents. Committee Chairmen Michael DeLeo said he nominated Conway after reading about him in The Sunday Republican. Although much work remains to be done to more fully document Conway’s life, DeLeo said Conway seems to fit the criteria for inclusion into the Hall of Fame. ‘Its that whole thing above and beyond,’ DeLeo said. “The thing that strikes me is that his deeds could inspire future generations, which is what the Hall of Fame is all about. He is a candidate for sure.’ ”
Contact information for Mike DeLeo at the Bronson Memorial Library is 203-574 8234 and e mail is
mjdeleo@hotmail.com
2001 September 23, 2001 Fr. Conway memorial mass and Fr. Conway Park rededication ceremony scheduled
Excerpts from letter, Thomas Meade Conway (August 2001)
I am Thomas Meade Conway, the oldest son of William J. Conway, Father Conway’s younger brother. I’m nineteen years older than my youngest brother Mike that you talked to and I heard a bit more about my Uncle Tom, for whom I was named. I was born in May 1944, so I never got to know my Uncle Tom, but I know my father loved him very much.
My mother told me that the only time she saw Dad cry was when his brother Tom died. Tom did a lot for his little brother Bill. He was a great older brother and put Bill through college. Tom spent some time with my parents in Glendale, CA. I remember my mother telling me about the time she called Tom and told him she had an important urgent issue that she needed to talk to him about. Tom rushed right over and about collapsed in laughter when she told him she wanted his opinion on what kind of camera to buy for Bill. Tom was sure it had to be a marital problem that was so urgent.
Tom had a great sense of humor as well as being a good caring person. I’m very proud of my Uncle Tom and his life. Like my brothers and sister, I feel no need to pursue any posthumous recognition for Tom. He had a very good productive life and touched many people who think very highly of him.
Excerpts from email from Diane Ryan (October 2001)
Hello, Bill!
Yes, my mother-in-law reminded me that Wm Pape was also a relative of Father Conway, so I called Brigitte to let her know. I received a call today from state representative Andrew Rorabeck’s office letting me know that Congresswoman Nancy Johnson is supporting the idea of awarding a Congressional Medal of Honor.
Father Conway’s mother, Margaret, is buried in Old St Joseph’s Cemetery in Waterbury, CT. My mother-in-law knows where. I believe she died suddenly around 1934. Up until that time my mother-in-law was supposed to come here to live from Ireland.
My mother-in-law has the phone numbers of other relatives in the midwest. Also there is another cousin, a retired professor, named Howard Clarke who lives in Santa Barbara, CA and writes to my mother-in-law at Christmastime.
My mother-in-law’s phone number is 203-756-9317. At onetime she also had a recording from Fr. Conway which she had inherited from her Aunt Nellie; but unfortunately it was badly damaged and therefore she discarded it. The “family tree” Mary Cullen has no dates pertaining to the Conways and is inaccurate.
Best Wishes,
Diane Ryan
Excerpts from email between Bill Pape’s and Brigitte Ruthmam (October 2001)
Bill, this note comes from THE PUBLISHER of this newspaper no less. Can you believe this- he’s actually related to Father Conway!
Brigitte
----- Original Message -----
From: “W. J. Pape”
wjpape@rep-am.com
To:
bruthman@rep-am.com
Sent: Friday, October 05, 2001 11:34 AM
Subject: (no subject)father tom conway
Dear Brigitte:
I called Margaret Ryan. Haven’t seen or talked to her
in ages. She confirmed that my mother’s mother was Briget Meade, sister to Margaret Meade, Father Tom’s mother. He used to stay with us when he visited Waterbury. Once while at Farmington Ave., he tried to teach me to make photographic prints. He stayed with us in Madison in the summer of either '44 or '45. We made a box kite 4 or 5 feet tall but could never get it to fly, not enough wind. Hope you are well. Keep in
touch. Bill Pape
2003
2006 MAY Western New York Catholic
Memorial honors fallen priest who ministered at naval disaster
Bishop Edward U. Kmiec will dedicate the Father Thomas Conway Memorial at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park on Saturday, May 20, at 1 p.m. Guest speaker at the dedica-tion will be Rear Admiral Louis V. Iasiello, Chaplain Corps, U.S. Navy, chief of chaplains. Admiral Iasiello is familiar with the Western New York area, having taught at Bishop Timon High School for many years before joining the Navy as a chaplain.Father Conway, a priest of the Diocese of Buffalo, was a chaplain on board the USS Indianapolis (CA-35) that was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine on July 30, 1945. In the worst naval disaster in U.S. history, 883 men went down with the ship and another 316 sailors perished in the shark-infested waters of the Philip-pine Sea.Before drowning, Father Conway ministered to many of the survivors of the Indianapolis. Frank J. Centazzo, an Indy sur-vivor, wrote, “Father Conway was in every way a messenger of our Lord. He loved his work, no matter what the challenge. He was respected and loved by all his shipmates. I was in the group with Father Conway. … I saw him go from one small group to another, getting the shipmates to join in prayer and asking them not to give up hope of being rescued. He kept working until he was exhausted. I remember on the third day late in the afternoon when he approached Paul McGiness and me. Father Conway was successful in his mission to provide spiritual strength to all of us. He made us believe that we would be rescued. He gave us hope and the will to endure. His work was exhausting and he fi nally succumbed in the evening of the third day. He will be remem-bered by all of the survivors for all of his work while on board the Indy and especially three days in the ocean.” “If it wasn’t for Father Conway, many more sailors would have died,” said former Erie County Sheriff Thomas Higgins, general chairman of the memorial committee. “Father Conway swam among the survivors of the Indianapolis, encouraging them, praying with them, and probably hear-ing some of their confessions.”Born in Waterbury, Conn., Father Conway came to Western New York in the late 1920s and received an under-graduate degree from Niagara Univer-sity. He remained at Niagara to attend Our Lady of the Angels Seminary and was ordained to the priesthood in 1934. Prior to joining the Navy during World War II, Father Conway served at a number of parishes in Buffalo, including St. Rose of Lima, All Saints, St. Teresa, St. Nicholas and St. Brigid. The effort to have a memorial in Father Conway’s memory was spear-headed by Father Michael Zuffoletto, a priest of the Diocese of Buffalo currently on assignment in London, England, as a U.S. Navy chaplain. He fi rst learned of Father Conway’s heroic service while reading the necrology for the diocese in 2002. “He saved countless lives at the sacrifi ce of his own. That needs to be recognized,” said Father Zuffoletto. “In times of turmoil and uncertainty, people who serve in the military look to their chaplains for support, guid-ance, spirit and strength. Here was an individual who proved that, even to the point of self-sacrifi ce.”Brian Porter created the bust of Father Conway clutching a fi stful of dog tags in his left hand and fl otation vests in his right hand. Father Conway re-moved the sailors’ dog tags as they died. “When they see it, I hope people will get the story of Father Conway and his connection to Buffalo,” Porter said. “There is an emphatic connection as humans that this is what Father Conway and the other men went through in the water with the sharks. And there is the spiritual connection of Father Conway to these men. Not only did he provide physical comfort, but gave comfort to their souls as well.”Veterans and members of the com-munity are invited to the dedication.The Naval and Military Park is located at the foot of Pearl and Main streets, across from HSBC Arena in downtown Buffalo.
Fr. Conway pray for us.