George W. Conk Jr.

George Conk passed away peacefully at home on April 20th. His son Stephen and daughter Nancy were with him. George’s wish was to once again be with Clare, his wife of 70 years, who passed away last year. He had just celebrated his 96th birthday on March 5th surrounded by his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He lived a full life!

George grew up in Gerritsen Beach, a poor Irish immigrant community in Brooklyn, NY. He worked on the Brooklyn docks to put himself through Fordham University and, after graduating in 1942, he joined the Navy and served as captain of a Sub-chaser in WW II until he was discharged in 1945. He and Clare married in 1945 and raised a family of five children. He shared with them his love of sailing and boating spending endless summer days on the water.

In 1972 George moved his business and his family from Connecticut to Santa Barbara – a decision the whole family was grateful for. George sold his business and retired in 1979. It was an active retirement. George used his free time to travel overseas with Clare and to give back to the community. He served on the Board of Directors of Catholic Charities for the Los Angeles Archdiocese. He volunteered on overnight service at Transition House. For almost 25 years he was an Advisory Committee member for the City of Santa Barbara’s Parks and Recreation Commission. For more than 21 years, until he was 94, he visited the sick at Cottage Hospital as a Eucharistic Minister for Saint Barbara Parish.

George lived a full life and will be deeply missed by his children, his grandchildren and his great grandchildren.
A memorial mass will be held Friday June 3rd at 11:00 a.m. in Serra Chapel at the Old Mission Santa Barbara. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in George’s memory to Fordham University Financial Aid Campaign for scholarship assistance to students of modest means and Catholic Charities Santa Barbara for their homeless services.