Softball hall-of-famer Robert Conk, 77

Robert F. Conk, a North Merrick man whose exceptional skills in senior citizen softball led two hall of fames for the sport to induct him, died Saturday. He was 77.

Conk had been a lover of baseball and softball since early in his life, but got heavily involved after retiring from his job as a senior insurance underwriter in 1995, his family said.

"He was a quiet man," said his son, Robert A. Conk, 49, of Farmingdale. "He let his bat do all the talking."

He died 10 days after collapsing while practicing with his team in the Town of Brookhaven.

The older Conk, who batted third or cleanup, had a fast-pitch batting average that was more than .300, his family said. His average on the senior circuit was close to .600, they said.

Conk grew up in Jamaica, Queens, and spent his youth playing baseball in the Queens Alliance League and at John Adams High School, his family said. In the late 1940s, while still in high school, he started playing fast-pitch softball with the Idlewild Athletic Club. Over the years, he played for several teams including Floral Park Bombers, Tator's Nassau Democrats and Palm Cafe.

After graduation, Conk began working at New York Life Insurance Company. He spent 43 years there before retiring. Conk and his wife, Francine, who were married for 55 years, moved to North Merrick 39 years ago, the family said.

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Soon after retiring, Conk joined the senior softball circuit. He played in Florida during the winter and on Long Island in the spring and summer, his family said.

In the 1980s, he was inducted into the Long Island Senior Softball Association Hall of Fame. In 2009, he was inducted into the National Senior Softball Hall of Fame in Oklahoma.

"He was just very passionate," the younger Conk said. "He loved being out there."

He added that his father enjoyed watching the Yankees and would at times watch replays of the games even if he knew the outcome.

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In addition to sports, Conk enjoyed traveling and doing crossword puzzles, his son said.

"He was just a good soul," said Conk's daughter, Barbara Schukraft, 54, of Port St. Lucie, Fla. "He had very high values. He imparted that on all his children."

Conk is survived by his wife; five children, including James Conk, 49, of Smithtown; John Conk, 46, of Merrick; and Maryanne Lutz, 41, of North Palm Beach, Fla.; and 10 grandchildren.

Visiting hours are at Charles J. O'Shea Funeral Home in East Meadow Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m., Wednesday from 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Funeral will be at Sacred Heart Church in North Merrick Thursday; burial at Locust Valley Cemetery.