Alice Wright Conkey, 91, passed away Jan. 7 at her home at Wheelock Terrace in Hanover, N.H. after a period of declining health. She had resided in Hanover since 1999 and was a longtime summer resident of Jefferson.
Before moving to Hanover, she and her husband raised their family of five girls in Philadelphia, Penn. Born Alice Kepler Wright in Vengurla, India, she was the first child of the Rev. Horace Kepler Wright and Adelaide (Fairbank) Wright. She graduated from the Woodstock School in Mussoorie, India, and magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Mount Holyoke College in 1941, a double major in music and English. Alice then joined the music faculty at Germantown Friends School (Philadelphia), where she met and married (1942) fellow musician Albert B. Conkey. While raising the family, she pursued graduate studies at Temple University, was an active volunteer with Brownies and Girl Scouts, and was involved in musical activities such as teaching piano, singing in and directing choirs at the Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill, and performing two-piano concerts with Al. In 1960, Alice joined the faculty at Abington Friends School, as both music teacher and later Dean of Students. She retired in 1982 after a full and dedicated tenure, actively participating in an important growth period for the school.
In 1948, Al and Alice made their first visit to Damariscotta Lake, the start of more than 63 summers at the lake. Upon her retirement, she and Al relocated to Brunswick, enjoying travel and continued musical endeavors. In 1999 Al’s declining health brought them to Hanover, N.H. to be close to family support. Al passed away on Feb. 6, 2000. Since then, Alice participated in the League of Women Voters and other organizations promoting equality and social justice. She maintained an active intellectual life, and was deeply respected for her compassionate acceptance of others and her dedication to friends and family.
Alice is survived by siblings, Mary Adelaide Rainey of Greenville, S.C., Lydia Wright Beaumont of Bethlehem, Penn., and Theodore R.F. Wright of Charlottesville, Va.; daughters, Margaret Wright Conkey of Berkeley, Cal., Jane Fairbank Conkey of Falls Church, Va., Frances Conkey Trafton of Providence, R.I., Laura Elizabeth Conkey of Hanover, N.H., and Mary Adelaide Mankins of Inwood, W. Va.; 11 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
At her request, her body has been donated to the Anatomical Gifts Program of the Dartmouth Medical School.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, she has suggested that donations be sent to The Woodstock School (www.woodstockschool.in) or Mount Holyoke College (South Hadley, MA 01075; www.mtholyoke.edu). The family would also like to acknowledge the caring support of the staff at Wheelock Terrace and the VNA and Hospice of VT and NH (www.vnavnh.org).