1966

Today

David Michael Conley

Residence: Medellin, Antioquia, Colombia
I am married to Gloria Elena Cruz Velasquez.
I have one child, Autumn and 5 grandchildren.

This is a current photo of me and one of my wife, Gloria Elena Cruz Velasquez. We live in Medellin, Antioquia, Colombia.

Diane Huston and I had a daughter Autumn in 1978. We are divorced.

The two best things to happen since high school:

Number 1. Meeting Gloria through a UNICEF program in Colombia, Marrying Gloria, moving to Medellin.

Number 2. My work previously among the poor and homeless of Akron.

From:

Dale R. Knapp
2939 Manchester Rd.
Akron, OH

Organizations:

RE: Mr. David Conley

My association with David began in Jan. or Feb. of 2007 when he spoke at our Generations of Faith gathering at Sacred Heart Church in Wadsworth, OH. At the time David was running the Peter Maurin drop-in-center for the Catholic Worker in Akron, OH. The center was a place for those in need to come to for a hot meal and fellowship and if possible some direction in finding help for other needs.

When David spoke of his experiences and those of the homeless in the Akron area I could sense a very heart felt sense of what they were going through. He and his partner from the Catholic Worker gave us a feeling that helping at the center was more then just handing out food. It was about what the founder of the Catholic Worker , Dorothy Day, called Personalism. I did some reading about Dorothy Day and the Catholic Worker and was soon helping at the center on a regular basis.

David at this time was also involved in an outreach ministry, started by himself and another gentleman who volunteered at the center, called Mathew. 8:20. In his conversations with Bill Young they both became convinced there was a need to take warm food and clothing out to the homeless on the streets of Akron and in fact had been doing so since Nov. of 2007 at the time I got involved in April of 2008. They along with Bill’s wife persevered every Friday for 6 months when myself and two other men got involved. That ministry now encompasses 3 cities( Akron, Canton, and Barberton) and is serving 100 to 200 people on any given Friday in Akron Ohio. Tents, tarps, sleeping bags, warm clothes, hats and gloves, food to take with them and bottled water and juices are provided. In the 4 years previous to this 7 people died from exposure. Since the inception of these programs no deaths have occurred. Also 4 other groups were inspired to take up the cause for Monday through Thursday nights

David is a man of strong convictions with a compassionate heart and a willingness to do whatever is needed to help others who are in need. He is intelligent and can be a great asset to any group or organization he might choose to align himself with but he also has the strength to move ahead and forge new ground when he is convinced that is what is needed.

David has been a personal friend and has always encouraged me in my call to help those most in need our world.

Best Regards,

Dale R. Knapp

This is a picture taken right before graduation in June 1966 at Joe Schusters house. This is Joe and Mickey Martin and myself.

This picture of Teri Cole and I was taken right after Tim's funeral in February 1967.

This picture of Teri and I was taken in April 1967 after I finished AIT at Ft. Dix.

This picture was taken in April 1967. I was on leave and heading for Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland for Officer Candidate School.

Click here for Photo Album