Mary E. Conway

MARY E. CONWAY, Nurse, Educator, and College Dean

Mary E. Conway (97) of Edgewater, formerly of New Smyrna Beach, died on April 22, 2021. Mary moved to New Smyrna Beach in 1993 from Augusta, Georgia, following her retirement from the Medical College of Georgia. She had a long and distinguished career in nursing, education, and administration; she also volunteered her time and gave generously to charities helping the poor throughout the world.

In 1946 Mary received her B.S. in Nursing from Columbia University, working for 20 years as a nurse and then as Director of Nursing at hospitals in Massachusetts and New York. In 1968 she began a Ph.D. program in Sociology at Boston University, receiving her Ph.D. in 1972. She then began her career in higher education, first as an Associate Professor at BU, then as Dean of the School of Nursing at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and finally as Dean of the College of Nursing at Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. Her career included consulting work for the National Institutes of Health as well as several universities and international organizations. Mary authored several textbooks, frequently presented papers at professional conferences, and contributed a long list of articles to professional journals. While in Augusta, Mary founded Safe Homes of Augusta, a women’s shelter and assistance program.

During her retirement years in New Smyrna Beach, Mary was a communicant at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and later at St. Peter The Fisherman Church. She volunteered at a prison ministry and at the Homeless Assistance Center in Daytona Beach, and was a member of the New Smyrna Garden Club and the Literati book club. Mary loved to have out-of-town visitors, especially from “up north”, and would often treat them to an excellent dinner on the waterfront at the Smyrna Yacht Club, where she was an enthusiastic member despite never having owned a boat in her life.

Throughout her life, Mary loved Lake George in New York, where she often rented a house for a few weeks in the summer. In later years, her family was much relieved when she discovered the auto-train, which allowed her to have her car at Lake George but avoid the long drive from Florida and back.  

Mary is survived by her sister Patricia Hainsworth of Foxboro, MA, as well as many cousins, nephews and nieces and their families.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mary’s memory to the charity of your choice. 

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