Robert “Bob” Conroy, remembered as a true Renaissance man, left behind a legacy of passion for both rock climbing and rock ‘n’ roll, alongside being a steadfast pillar of his family. His life tragically ended on Thursday during a rock climbing excursion at Crow Hill in Leominster State Forest, Westminster.
Born and raised in Everett, Conroy, aged 69, was a seasoned adventurer who had conquered notable peaks such as the Grand Tetons and Mount Washington numerous times, as well as all the 4,000-footers in New Hampshire. His wife of 45 years, Susan Conroy, shared that Bob had estimated he had a couple more years left to pursue his beloved sport before age would catch up with him.
“Bob rock climbed, ice climbed, mountaineered. He did spelunking. He hiked. And has been hiking to mountains since he was 13,” Susan Conroy recounted. “The tragedy of Thursday is they (Bob Conroy and his longtime climbing partner Joel) were on their last climb. That’s why it’s so ironic. I mean, Crow Hill was probably the easiest climb he ever did.”
Described as remarkably fit, Conroy maintained a rigorous fitness regimen, visiting the gym three to four times weekly and, in his youth, once undertaking a cross-country bicycle journey from Revere to San Francisco, as his wife emphasized, clarifying it was not on a motorcycle.
“He was the most physically fit person that we knew,” Susan Conroy affirmed. “He was going to be 70 next month and every single morning he did 100 situps, 100 pushups, 100 chair climbs and then he would plank for as long as he could.”
The cause of the climbing accident remains undetermined by state police, leaving family and friends bewildered. Susan Conroy expressed disbelief, noting her husband’s meticulous attention to safety over his 35 years of climbing experience.
“We’re stunned because in 35 years of climbing, my husband never made a mistake — never,” Susan Conroy asserted. “And he was always with other people. He was adamant about safety. He checked his equipment all the time. Bought new equipment if he thought the old equipment was getting frayed. People think of rock climbing as teenagers climbing up the side of a gravel pit and that’s not what rock climbing is. They have lots and lots of harnesses and helmets and ropes all together with carabiners and all kinds of things. So we have no idea what happened.”
Bob Conroy’s passing has left a profound void among his loved ones and the climbing community, where he was respected for his expertise and dedication to safety. His legacy as a passionate adventurer and family man continues to resonate deeply with those who knew him best.
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