James Edward Conlon

James Edward Conlon was born on December 9, 1935 as the second son to Ralph and Elvera Conlon (née Nichting). Growing up in Cincinnati, Jimmy, or later Jim, as he was called by his parents and his older brother Ralph David Conlon, demonstrated significant creative talent as a young man, and enjoyed both music and art. He played saxophone and took drawing classes in high school, eventually studying art in college, graduating with both Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Master of Fine Art degrees. It was during the pursuit of his Master's degree at The Ohio State University where he met the love of his life, our mother, Joanne Lois Conlon (née Kuhns). After graduating, they married in June of 1959 and started a family, eventually moving in 1965 for a teaching opportunity at a very young University of South Alabama. It's in Mobile that Dad and Mom built their professional creative lives and raised us kids, Kevin, Kathleen and Kris. Dad and Mom were, in every sense of the word, partners in teaching, making art, and raising their children. Dad's talent in helping to build the Art Department at the university was well respected by his colleagues, and many of the students that followed the program went on to graduate school and led professional lives as artists, enriching their communities and paying their creativity forward. It is a tremendous legacy that many of Jim's colleagues and students have stayed in touch with him during the years after his retirement from the university. Even after retirement, Jim continued to teach for the City of Mobile's regional senior centers. So, Jim will be missed by them and many, many others, including children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and his surviving brother and sister-in-law, Jim and Penny Brissenden (née Kuhns). He will also be missed by the Congregation of Ahavas Chesed where he shared his faith with our Mom. He will now join her at the Ahavas Chesed Cemetery, and a memorial service will be offered at a future date as soon as restrictions are lifted and we can all join together to say goodbye to him properly. In the meantime, condolences may be offered at www.radneyfuneralhome-mobile.com.