Pilot, a Wellstone favorite, once flew for American Airlines
Glenn Howatt
Star Tribune

Published Oct. 26, 2002 CONR26

Airplane Capt. Richard Conry was a favorite of Sen. Paul Wellstone, who often requested that he be on the senator's chartered flights.

Conry, 55, was the pilot Friday on Wellstone's flight to Eveleth, Minn., and was one of the eight victims.

"He loved flying," said his wife, Johanne Conry. "Ever since he was a kid in Edina. Richard had this little plane when he was 16."

He began working as a dialysis nurse a few years ago after he left American Airlines.

"He was such a helping individual that he knew there was a shortage in that kind of area and he couldn't think of a better way to help," said family friend JoAnne Olson.

Conry joined Executive Aviation of Eden Prairie in April 2001 and had nearly 5,200 hours of flying time, the company said.

Olson said Conry went back to flying because he missed it so much, but he continued to work with dialysis patients part time.

"He was a very good pilot, totally conscientious," said Olson. "He always made the right decisions about when to fly and when not to fly."

Olson was one of many family friends who had gathered at the Conry home in Minnetonka on Friday night.

"Everybody here is wondering how and why did this happen," she said. "We are just wanting and waiting for all kinds of answers to be found."

Conry's friends remembered his dedication to others, his passion for biking, and his devotion to his wife of 15 years, Olson said.

In addition to his wife, Conry is survived by a sister and his mother, according to Stephen Etheridge, another family friend.

"We've lost a very, very dear friend," said Olson.