Vale Bill Conway
It is with a very heavy heart that we inform the community that Bill Conway, director of Montessori Schools and Centres (MSCA) and beloved Montessori educator and leader, passed away on Saturday, November 23rd, 2024. Bill was travelling in the USA at the time to see family and was in the company of his daughter in his final moments.
We know this news will greatly impact our national Montessori community here in Australia, and also abroad. Raised in the US and Kampala, Uganda, Bill spent more than 25 years of his career as a head of school, 10 years teaching in the classroom and three years as a school counsellor. Bill’s reach as a passionate Montessorian was extensive. As the former Principal of Montessori East in Sydney from 2007 – 2020, Education Consultant and international facilitator of Association Montessori Internationale’s (AMI) Administrator Training Course through Sydney Montessori Training Centre (SMTC), Bill has left a legacy of championing genuine Montessori practice. Bill also served on the board of the Montessori East Foundation, Rockingham and Forestville Montessori Schools and consulted with schools in Australia and Thailand.
Bill acted as a mentor to many Australian Montessori School Principals, and modelled the Montessori principles and philosophy in the way he interacted with others, and the way he lived his life. Bill was a founding board member of MSCA, played an integral role in establishing the organisation and his input and contribution over the past five years has been immense. As the Chair of our Education Committee, Bill championed our Genuine Montessori Pathway and other initiatives. Bill’s commitment and sense of service to the Montessori community both in Australia and internationally has been profound.
Bill is survived by his beloved partner and fellow Montessorian, Kei Ikeda, and his four children living around the globe and two beautiful granddaughters living in Kodiak, Alaska.
We will miss his intellect, his wisdom, thoughtful approach, his gentle manner, his warmth, light-heartedness, care, and humour. He was our colleague, our anchor, our mentor and much-loved friend.
Further information regarding a service to commemorate Bill’s life will be made available to the community at a later date.
Rest in peace, Bill. You will be missed.
