Kathleen Conroy

Kathleen Conroy, a lifelong resident of Newark, NJ, passed away on January 19, 2026, at the age of 84. She attended Good Counsel School and Good Counsel High School in Newark and graduated from Caldwell College. During her college years, she worked as a secretary for Ballantine Brewery in Newark. After graduation, she taught at Newark’s East Side High School. After a brief stint in publishing at McGraw-Hill Publishers in New York City, she joined the English Department at Plainfield High School, rising to Chairman of the Department and then to Assistant Principal. She retired in 1999. Kathleen was an avid reader and a reluctant convert to e-books. She loved classical music and the theater, never missing a season at the New Jersey Shakespeare Theater in 67 years. She was an active member of St. Cassian Roman Catholic Church, Upper Montclair, serving as a Eucharist Minister, volunteering in the parish office, and organizing activities for seniors. She is survived by her niece, Kate Metro (McClear) and great-niece and -nephew, JoAnn and Colin Hodgkiss. She was pre-deceased by her father, Joseph; her mother, Ann; and her sister, JoAnn McClear. Kathleen supported many charities that were close to her heart. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital.