Joseph E. Conway, talented educator, loving brother and loyal friend, peacefully passed away at Cottage Hospital on Nov. 28, 2025.

Joe was born April 25, 1935. He was a longtime resident of Santa Barbara, he moved to California from Kansas City, Missouri, in 1960.

Joe’s faith was an integral part of his life. A lifelong Catholic, he attended parochial schools in Kansas City where he also earned his B.A. and a lifetime teaching credential.

After coming to Santa Barbara, he earned his master of arts degree from Loyola University Los Angeles. He was a long-time member of San Roque Catholic Church in Santa Barbara.

Joe was especially proud of his two-year service in the United States Marine Corps, where he served in Japan. As a Marine, he rose via meritorious promotion to the rank of corporal.

In 1960, he moved to Fontana, California, to begin his teaching career. Moving to Santa Barbara in 1965, Joe was hired by the Santa Barbara High School District to teach at La Colina Junior High School, where he taught for 30 years. During those years, he touched the lives of thousands of students, as well as many colleagues.

At La Colina, Joe taught English 7 in a team situation that included many classes for the gifted and talented. He partnered with Maryanna Gray, for 17 years, and with Ric Reed for 10 years. Toward the end of his career, he also taught typing.

At the time Joe began teaching at La Colina, education was in a state of transformation, moving from an emphasis on rote learning to a greater emphasis on creativity and critical thinking, applying an interdisciplinary approach and other innovative strategies.

As was befitting a former Marine, Joe’s classroom was run like a tight ship with “desks in the parameters” and dictionaries on the right-hand corner.

If asked to describe Mr. Conway, a former student would definitely include the word strict! However, in retrospect, each would also realize that it was in his classroom that they learned to write and to think critically, and that he always expected them to do their best.

They would also realize how deeply he cared about his students. They would also probably remember the Personal History Book, Operation Newspaper, and Corporation.

In 1973 Joe was cited by the Optimist Club of Santa Barbara, Inc. for meritorious and distinguished service. In 1988 he was given the PTA Honorary Service Award; and in 1995 he was honored by the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara for “outstanding service to La Colina Junior High School.”

Joe moved to Vista del Monte in September of 2016, where he met new friends and reunited with former colleagues. He is remembered there for his appreciation of staff and other residents and his frequent gifts of candy and cookies to them.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents Bernard and Lorena Conway, and his sister Mary Patricia Conway of Kansas City, Missouri. He is survived by his former wife and friend Sandy Fisher of Santa Barbara.

All those whose life’s Joe touched will miss his sense of loyalty, his integrity, his sharp intellect, his dedication to others, and the care he shared every day.

He will also be remembered for the legacy he left to the lives of the students he touched.

A memorial celebrating Joe Conway’s life will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 15 at Vista del Monte, 3775 Modoc Road in the main lounge.

If you are unable to come, it would be wonderful if you sent a special memory of Joe to Maryanna Gray by email, mawginsb@gmail.com or text. 805-689-8908.

If you can attend, please let Maryanna Gray know by Jan. 7 to help with the planning of the memorial.