Obituary of Donald Thompson Conover

December 2, 1922 to January 11, 2006

Commander Donald Thompson Conover, SC, USN (Ret), 83, of Cazenovia, New York, died January 11, 2006 at Community General Hospital in Syracuse, NY.

Commander Conover was an Eagle Scout and was selected to be a snare drummer in the National Boy Scout Band. He was a part of the American contingent to the International Boy Scout Jamboree in the Netherlands, in 1937.

He graduated from Friends Central School in Overbrook, Pennsylvania. He attended the University of Pennsylvania for one year. In 1940, he enlisted in the Navy. He was selected to join the Class of 1946 of the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating in 1945 due to wartime acceleration of the program. While at the Naval Academy he served as 6th Company Commander.

Upon graduation, Commander Conover spent one year in post graduate study at Harvard University. His tours of duty as a Naval Officer took him to Gulfport, MS; China Lake, CA; Kodiak, AK; Kalamazoo, MI; Norfolk, VA; Philadelphia, PA; Yokosuka, Japan; and Columbus, OH. Prior to the Naval Academy, he served aboard the USS Dixie (AD-14) and the USS New York (BB-34). After assuming his commission, Commander Conover served aboard the USS Stormes (DD-780) and the USS Hyades (AF-28).

After retiring from the Navy, Commander Conover served as Business Manager of Olivet College and Kirkland College, and Assistant Business Manager of Hamilton College. He was a member of the Cazenovia Club, the Limestone Creek Hunt Club and was for several years the President of the Board of the 1st Presbyterian Church. He served for many years as a member of the Cazenovia Town Planning Board.

He is survived by his son, Donald, of Annapolis, MD; his daughter, Sarah, of Cazenovia; his daughter-in-law, Deborah McGlauflin, of Annapolis, and his wife, Jeanne Conover of Ridge Road. Other survivors include his granddaughters, Natasha Bang of Pittsford, NY; Alyssa Morgan of Arlington, VA; Cassandra Conover of Brookline, MA; great grandsons Alexander Bang and William Morgan, and grandsons-in-law, Christopher Bang and Derrick Morgan.

A memorial service will be held on February 18, 2006, at 11:00 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Cazenovia, NY. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Cazenovia Volunteer Ambulance of Cazenovia, NY.