Joanne Barkett Conway

Joanne Barkett Conway, noted philanthropist and CEO/owner of the Golden Door, a renowned health and wellness resort, passed away at her home in McLean, Virginia on January 8, 2024, after a short illness. She was 75. She is survived by her husband of 35 years, William E. Conway, Jr, a co-founder of The Carlyle Group, her two sisters Elaine Joseph and Denise Pontius, six nieces and nephews, 14 grandnieces and nephews, a stepson William E. Conway, III and his wife, Brittany, and their three daughters, Bella, Birdie and Billie. Mrs. Conway will be deeply missed.

Mrs. Conway was a graduate of Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia. In recognition of her philanthropic work, Mrs. Conway also received honorary doctorates from The Catholic University of America, home of The Conway School of Nursing, in 2017, Trinity Washington University in 2020, the University of Maryland, Baltimore in 2021, and Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit in 2023.

Mr. and Mrs. Conway, individually and through their Bedford Falls Foundation and other philanthropic vehicles, have given or committed nearly $400 million to charitable organizations in the mid-Atlantic region. While Mrs. Conway preferred to stay out of the spotlight, her vision of empowering individuals with the skills and opportunities needed to find fulfilling employment has been the backbone of the couple’s philanthropy. Mrs. Conway was first inspired to support nursing after a waitress at a restaurant she frequented in Maine told her of the struggle to afford a nursing degree. Sparked by the idea if a person can get a nursing degree they can always get a job, the Conway’s support has produced more than 7,000 nurses across 15 nursing schools: The Catholic University of America, Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit, George Washington University, Georgetown University, Howard University, Johns Hopkins University, Pennsylvania State University, Trinity Washington University, University of Maryland Baltimore, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, University of Pennsylvania, University of Pittsburgh, University of Virginia, Villanova University, and Virginia Commonwealth University, and soon will also support nursing students at Western Carolina University. In addition to supporting nursing schools, the Conways have supported a pathway to nursing program at Children’s National Hospital as well as health care more generally at Sibley Memorial Hospital, the National Capital Poison Center, Mary’s Center, and The Health Wagon.

Outside of health care, the Conways have helped those facing food or housing insecurity by contributing to the building of the Bedford Falls Distribution Center at the Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB) and the Conway Center at So Others May Eat (SOME) as well as enabling fresh produce distribution by CAFB, job training programs at SOME and supporting the work of Catholic Charities. The Conways have also supported the arts through The REACH expansion at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the PBS News Hour on WETA. Finally, Mrs. Conway instituted a pledge to donate100% of the net proceeds from her

Golden Door operations, thereby enabling donations to forensic health services at Palomar Health Foundation, the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, the San Fransisco Child Abuse Prevention Center, Rady Children’s Hospital, I have a Dream Foundation, and Casa de Amparo.

After purchasing the Golden Door in 2012, Mrs. Conway, together with its General Manager/COO Kathy Van Ness, oversaw extensive spa renovations to return it to its former glory and garnered title of #1 Destination Spa in the World from Condé Nast Traveller amongst other accolades. Mrs. Conway’s acquisition of adjacent properties nearly doubled the footprint of the Golden Door to more than 600 acres of natural splendor crisscrossed by 30 miles of hiking and walking trails. Under Mrs. Conway’s management, the Golden Door also greatly expanded its sustainable farming operations and opened the Golden Door Country Store to share its organic harvest with the San Marcos, California community.

Mrs. Conway also spearheaded the November 2022 acquisition of a 1,988-acre property adjacent to the Golden Door, often referred to as “Newland Sierra,” to ensure that its open space, wildlife, and precious habitat areas will be protected consistent with Golden Door’s commitment to sustainability and climate action. Prior to its acquisition, Mrs. Conway was the driving force behind legal action, joined by many environmental groups, to prevent the potential development of the Newland Sierra property and enforce a meaningful climate action plan in the San Diego County.

In her private time, Mrs. Conway was a lifelong learner who loved to travel and experience difficult cultures. However, Mrs. Conway was perhaps happiest taking long walks with her husband. In fact, it was on one those walks when Mrs. Conway learned an owl housed at a Gulf Branch Nature Center in Arlington, Virginia was about to lose its home. As was her way, she quietly made inquiries to find out how much was needed and then, without fanfare, made the necessary donation. It was that kind of thoughtful observation of the needs of others, unparalleled attention to detail, and quiet resolve to get things done that underpinned her work to help so many, whether through her philanthropy or through wellness or environmental action at the Golden Door.

In keeping with her private nature, Mrs. Conway requested a small family farewell, and, as such, there will be no public funeral or memorial service. Donations may be made in her honor to SOME, Inc. for The SOME Center for Employment Training (CET) for their licensed post-secondary vocational school offering free, hands-on healthcare training for Medical Administrative Assistant and Medical Assistant students (learn more at https://www.SOME.org/JoanneConwayMemorial ) or another charity of the donor’s choice that honors Mrs. Conway’s charitable vision.