It is with sadness that I write to inform you of the passing of Robert Conway on Monday, February 5, at the age of 78. He was the first recipient of the Pillar of RPI award and a member of the Rensselaer community for nearly 50 years.

Bob, as he was known on campus, served in many roles, including registrar and director of the Advising and Learning Assistance Center, during his time at RPI. He is best remembered on campus for his close work with students, staff, and administration to ensure that RPI maintained one of the highest student-athlete graduation rates in the nation. He was also the radio voice of RPI football for more than 20 years, and he was never happier than when we kept the Dutchman’s Shoes. In addition to being a Pillar of RPI, Bob was elected to the RPI Athletics Hall of Fame in 2014.

In the wider community, Bob served on the Rensselaer County Legislature and the Troy City Council, where he was also a two-term mayor. He was a board member of the LaSalle School and a trustee of Christian Brothers Academy and Hudson Valley Community College, where he earned an associate’s degree before graduating from SUNY Albany with a bachelor’s in business and a master’s in educational administration. He received an honorary doctorate of laws from Manhattan College.

During his career at RPI, Bob was noted for his warm, generous presence and his infectious enthusiasm for the Institute and its teams. The work he did here benefits students to this day, and will do so for generations to come. Those who knew him will miss him dearly, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and colleagues. 

We hope you will join us at Houston Field House this Friday, February 9, at 7 p.m., to observe a moment of silence in Bob’s honor at the men’s hockey game.

A viewing for friends and family will be held at the McLoughlin & Mason Funeral Home, 8 109th Street, Troy, NY, on Friday, February 9, from 4 to 7 p.m. A funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Augustine's Church, 25 115th Street, Troy, NY, on Saturday, February 10, at 9:30 a.m. His family has encouraged donations to the LaSalle School in lieu of flowers.