Michael F. Conmy, MD, died Nov. 11, 2017, in Wauwatosa, WI, after a brief illness.  Mike was born to J.F.X. and Marcie Conmy June 5, 1931, in Fargo, ND, the oldest of five children.  He graduated from Sacred Heart Academy in Fargo, class of 1949, and later attended and graduated from Marquette University Medical School in Milwaukee. During med school he was married to Patricia and in the ensuing years had five children: Kathy (Glenn), Maureen (Don), Kevin, Gail and Ann. Following graduation from medical school, the family moved to California where Michael served as a flight surgeon for the Blue Angels at the El Toro Naval Air Station.

The family returned to Milwaukee and Mike became a board-certified radiologist and practiced for years in various affiliations in the Milwaukee area.  He also operated a small business, Vess Chairs, manufacturing and marketing a medical-assist chair for use in intubation procedures.

A lifelong hockey fan, Mike played amateur hockey for many years in goal, and also developed a passion for auto racing, driving a 1966 Shelby Cobra GT 350 for a number of years in the National NHRA Vintage Road Racing series. Assisting him was an equally obsessed pit crew headed by Dan Wilke, operator of “The Yard”.

The racing and professional careers came to an abrupt end in 2005 at the Elkhart Lake road racing track, when the car in front of Mike blew its engine and spewed oil all over the track.  Mike spun out on the oil slick and hit the track wall at an estimated 130 mph. Injuries to both the driver and the car were severe, and Mike was left with some residual disability.

He was preceded in death by both Patricia and his second wife, Judy, as well as daughter, Gail; a step-grandson, Charles; and his sister, Ellen C. Cornwell.

He is survived by four children, 11 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. He is also survived by his brothers Walsh, Patrick and James.

Now do all of us a favor: get some decent scotch for that drink before dinner—one ice cube, no water—and a cigar or two that one of your relatives might actually have wanted to steal.

A memorial celebration of his life will be held in early June 2018. 

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