We lost a hell of a fighter and good man this week. Ernest Conry, a husband, father and great friend, lost his battle with mesothelioma, September 18, 09. He died at his home in St. Louis, Missouri.
Ernie lived with pleural mesothelioma for over 7 years. Resilience against the disease is a true testament to the power of a positive attitude. He was always quick with a joke and happy to spread the joy. For years, he attended the annual conference of the Foundation Mesothelioma Applied Research, where he has taken as its mission to bring some laughter to many families and patients in pain
Ernie said a time, "the thing to do is. get up and do something. do not let cancer bog you down. Wait until one day it might bog you down, but my God, if you are still move, keep moving. Go on as you do not have a disease. So the thing to do is to get up and do something. keep moving and enjoy it. you know, take life you have going for yourself and make use of it. "
Born in 1933 in Tennessee Ernie moved to St. Louis like a child. He entered the automotive field at 17, become an apprentice car mechanic at a Ford dealership. He was drafted into the army in 1953, and arrived at Inchon, Korea, six months after the armistice was signed. From 1950 to 1998, when he retired with a pension of the union, Ernie worked regularly as a mechanic in a series of Ford dealers.
Once diagnosed with mesothelioma, he took it upon himself to visit the St. Louis area union halls and mechanical workshops, the distribution of literature on the dangers of asbestos. He has given numerous seminars for our staff within the firm. He taught us a lot - not only of asbestos in the auto industry, but on the strength, character and resilience
Ernie gave freely of himself and all he has never expected in return was the pleasure of good company .. He was a wonderful man. And he will be greatly missed.
