Gerard Conboy Obituary

Legendary basketball Coach, proud World War II Army Veteran, devout Catholic and devoted family man Coach Jerry Conboy, age 94, of Bethel Park passed away on February 6, 2022 one month shy of celebrating his 95th birthday. Jerry was the beloved husband to wife Patricia for 66 amazing years; treasured father of Tim (Beth), Colleen, Beth LaBonty, Kathy, Mark (Carrie); cherished grandfather of Ryan, Cole, Sean, Christopher LaBonty, Jonathan LaBonty, Sarah LaBonty, Parker, Quinn, and the late Bradley Conboy; dearly loved great grandfather of Cam, Carson, Claire, Charlie, and Grace; loving brother of Anne Hannigan and late brothers and sisters Joe, Theresa, Paul, Bernadette and Vinnie. He is also survived by many beloved nieces and nephews. Born and raised in Oakland on South Neville Street by Irish parents the late Thomas Conboy and Bridget (Summerville) Conboy, who immigrated to Pittsburgh from Ireland as a young teenage girl, Jerry led a very charmed and blessed life. Jerry graduated from Central Catholic in 1945, Duquesne University in 1951, and University of Pittsburgh in 1956. Jerry was honored with the 2009 Pittsburgh Sports Legend Award for his lifetime achievement as a basketball coach with 863 wins in a 50 year career. Initially recruited into coaching the St. Paul's Cathedral Grade School boys by Father Grundler, Jerry's coaching career was launched winning the Diocesan Championship. Next in 1956 Jerry was recruited by Central Catholic High School Christian Brother Giles Vincent to be the basketball and baseball coach at the newly founded South Hills Catholic High School (now Seton LaSalle High School) where he won 4 City Catholic League Titles, 2 State Championships, 4 Coach of the Year awards, and was selected to coach the first 2 Roundball Classics. In 1967 Jerry headed south to join Hall of Fame Coach Lefty Driesell at Davidson College in North Carolina as Assistant Coach for 2 years to help lead the men's basketball team to back to back Elite Eights, 2 Southern Conference Championships and rankings of 8th in nation in 1968 and 3rd in nation in 1969. Jerry returned to Pittsburgh in 1969 as Head Basketball Coach of Point Park University amassing 305 wins including 14 consecutive NAIA District 18 playoffs, 12 Invitational Tournament Championships, 2 District Championships and 2 NAIA National Tournaments. In 1980 Jerry traveled overseas with the Point Park Basketball team to Israel by special invitation from the Israeli Olympic Committee to play 3 games against the Israeli Olympic Team. After 20 years at Point Park University, where Jerry also served as the Athletic Director, Coach Conboy returned to coaching high school, first at Elizabeth Forward High School, compiling a record of 66-33, won the Section Championship and played in the WPIAL Final and PIAA State Semi-Final with the girls basketball team. Next Jerry coached the Montour High School boys basketball team and took a team with a prior 3 year losing streak to winning the Section. Bringing his career full circle Jerry returned to Seton LaSalle High School to coach the girl's basketball team and won the WPIAL Championship, finishing as PIAA State Semi-Finalists. Coach Conboy is a 6 time Hall of Famer being inducted into the South Hills Catholic HOF, Point Park University HOF, Western PA Sports HOF, Pittsburgh Basketball Club HOF, National Italian American Sports HOF Pittsburgh Chapter and the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. Jerry was also a proud NABC (National Association of Basketball Coaches) for 52 years and attended the Final Four every year with his wife Pat and his daughters Kathy and Colleen also joined in on the fun in later years. Jerry proudly served as a World War II Army Sargent at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas working in the Separation Center, Finance Department as a Finance Technical Clerk and supervised 14 military and civilian personnel to process pay and travel expenses of officers being separated. Jerry was an especially proud family man and cherished spending time with wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays as well as the many birthdays and anniversaries of extended family members. Although Jerry dedicated his life to coaching basketball and loved the game, he enjoyed watching all sports and especially loved watching the Pittsburgh Penguins and Golden State Warriors. Additionally Jerry loved to travel with his wife Pat and they took many trips over the years including annual beach trips to Ocean City, NJ in the early years, Carolina Beach, NC, Sanibel Island, FL, Hilton Head, SC, multiple trips to Las Vegas, Italy, Paris, France and a few trips to Ireland to meet his Irish relatives. Arrangements by BEINHAUERS, 2828 Washington Rd, McMurray, 15317. Visitation will be held on Friday, February 11, 2022 from 2-4PM and 6-8PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:30AM on Saturday, February 12, 2022, at Saint Louise de Marillac Catholic Church, St. Catherine Laboure Parish, 320 McMurray Road, Upper St. Clair, PA 15241. Interment will follow immediately at Queen of Heaven Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations to honor the memory of Coach Jerry Conboy can be made to Seton LaSalle Catholic High School via the website at-here or can also be mailed to the school at: Seton LaSalle Catholic High School, 1000 McNeilly Road, Mt. Lebanon, PA 15226 Attn: Emily O'Neill.
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