Joseph B. Conahan Jr, MD

Joseph B. Conahan, Jr., MD, age 81, of Stroudsburg, passed away peacefully at home on June 3 surrounded by
his loving family. He was the devoted husband of Margaret (Dowell) Conahan, with whom he shared 56 years
of marriage.

Born on August 22, 1943, in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, he was the son of the late Joseph and Elizabeth
(McHugh) Conahan. Dr. Conahan graduated cum laude from the University of Scranton and earned his
medical degree from Creighton University, where he was inducted into the Alpha Sigma Nu National Jesuit
Honor Society. He completed his internship and residency in ophthalmology at Geisinger Medical Center.
A Major in the United States Air force, he served as Chief of the Departments of Ophthalmology at Minot Air
force Base in North Dakota.

In 1975, Dr. Conahan co-founded Pocono Eye Associates, Inc. with his partner Dr. Carl B. Weiss. The practice
continues to provide high-quality eye care to Monroe County residents. In 1990, Drs Conahan & Weiss
founded the Pocono Ambulatory Surgery Center, the region’s first outpatient eye surgery facility. Under Dr.
Conahan’s leadership, it evolved into a multi-specialty surgical center—a concept that was decades ahead of its
time—where he served as managing director. In 1991, he was appointed to the Ambulatory Surgery Services
Task Force for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Throughout his distinguished medical career, Dr. Conahan was a member of the Monroe County Medical
Society, Pennsylvania Medical Society, and the American Medical Association. He was a Fellow of the
American College of Surgeons, a Diplomate of the American Board of Ophthalmology, and an active member
of both the Ophthalmic Outpatient Surgical Society and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive
Surgery.

His leadership extended deeply into the community. He served on the boards of directors of Pocono Medical
Center Hospital, Pocono Health Systems, and the Pocono Foundation, and was an influential member of the
hospital’s Medical Staff. He played a key role in establishing the Department of Ophthalmology at the hospital,
serving as its Chief for nine years. He also served as President of Monroe County Cancer Transport
Corp., which led to the original purchase of the Daffodil Express.  Dr. Conahan chaired Pocono Medical
Center’s capital campaign for the Dale & Frances Hughes Cancer Center. 

Dr. Conahan’s dedication to service went beyond medicine. In 1998, he co-founded PATH (Pocono Area
Transitional Housing) with Margaret Wells and Church Women United. Since its founding, PATH has provided
over 90,000 nights of safe shelter to those in need, and Dr. Conahan served as its first board president.
He also served on the board of United Penn and was a founding board member of Pocono Community Bank,
now First Keystone Community Bank, which supported local veterans through Dr. Conahan’s advocacy.
Additionally, he served on the board of the Pregnancy Resource Center of Monroe County.

In recognition of his lifetime of service, Dr. Conahan received numerous honors, including the Pocono
Mountain Chamber of Commerce Humanitarian of the Year, the University of Notre Dame Club of the Pocono
Mountains Person of the Year Award, the Pocono Medical Center Recognition Award, and the LVH - Pocono
Gold Medal Award.

A devoted parishioner of the Church of St. Luke,  Dr. Conahan volunteered in the soup kitchen and worked
with the diocese on initiatives to address homelessness.

In his free time, he enjoyed fly fishing at Tunkhanna Fishing Association and playing golf with the “Gippers.”
Dr. Conahan was a man of deep faith, unwavering integrity, and boundless compassion. He loved God, hisfamily, his friends, and the community he served so faithfully. He was respected not only as a gifted physician and visionary leader, but also as a humble and kind-hearted man who touched countless lives.

Dr. Conahan is survived by his beloved wife Margaret and their four children: Ann and her husband, Dr.
Gerald Negvesky, Dr. Bridget and her husband, Dr. Anthony Sestero, Maggie and her husband, Kevin Lahr,
and  Joseph B. Conahan III and his wife, Stefanie.

He was the cherished “Joe-Joe” to ten grandchildren: Janice, Elizabeth, Gerald, Max, Olivia, McHugh, Henry,
Joseph, Douglas, and Gracie. He is also survived by seven siblings: Frank, Paula, Elizabeth, Michael, Ann,
Therese, and Jim. He was preceded in death by his brother, Thomas Conahan.
The Conahan family extends their heartfelt gratitude to Joe’s extraordinary companions and caregivers, Claion
“Clay” Chang and Mirlande Joseph, for their love, devotion, and true compassion. You have been gifts from
God.  

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, June 14 at 11:00 AM at the Church of St. Luke, 818
Main St. Stroudsburg, PA. Interment will follow with military honors at Laurelwood Cemetery, 901 Bryant St.
Stroudsburg.

The family will receive relatives and friends at the Church of St. Luke prior to the mass from 9:00 AM to
11:00 AM .

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to:
Pocono Area Transitional Housing (PATH)
P.O. Box 308
Stroudsburg, PA 18360

The Church of Saint Luke
818 Main Street
Stroudsburg, PA 18360

The Pregnancy Resource Center of the Poconos
25 B N. 8th Street
Stroudsburg, PA 18360 

Dale & Frances Hughes Cancer Center
181 East Brown Street
East Stroudsburg, PA 18301

Arrangements are under the direction of the Joseph B. Conahan Funeral Home. Hazleton.

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