William Anthony Conti

William Anthony Conti Jr, formerly of Boardman, passed away unexpectedly in the early hours of May 20, 2023, in Salzburg, Austria during a travel excursion through Central Europe. He was 84 years old. William was born on March 29, 1939, to Mary and William Conti Sr. of Bennington Ave on the East side of Youngstown, Ohio. He graduated from East High, Class of 1957, then went on to attend the College of Fine Arts at Youngstown State University until 1960 before attending the Pittsburgh Institute of Art, where he received an Associate’s Degree in Interior Design in March 1963. That same year, William accepted employment with Crest Johnson Company as an Associate Interior Designer before becoming Co-Owner in 1968. Shortly thereafter, he met the love of his life, Carole Ann Vimmerstedt, whom he married in May of 1976 at St. John’s Episcopal Church. In 1978, the newlyweds welcomed their only son Brian Jeffrey, followed by the purchase of their home on Oak Knoll Drive in Forest Glen Estates a few months later, where they would reside for the following 35 years. With his devoted interest in historical preservation, William became an active member of the Forest Glen Homeowners Association from 1978-2004, serving one term as President in 1986. He also served as Chairman for the Historic Preservation Project for Forest Glen Estates in 1997. Over the course of the next two decades William built a steady design practice throughout the Northeast Ohio region, specializing in commercial and residential interiors. In 1987, he changed the name to William A. Conti Interiors, continuing his focus in commercial and residential design, while also taking on various historical restoration projects. William became actively involved with several cultural institutions throughout the Greater-Youngstown area. He was a lifelong member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), serving as their Membership Chair for the Ohio North Chapter from 1996-2005. He was appointed as a trustee for the Butler Museum of American Art 1981, during which time he also served as President for The Friends of American Art. William was a 25-year member of the Boardman Civic Association, serving as president in 1987, and a member of the Boardman Rotary, serving as its President in 1986. Historic Stambaugh Auditorium, specifically its E.M Skinner Pipe Organ, the only remaining one of its kind in the area, was William’s major passion project. Over many years, he served as the concert hall’s Director from 1990-99, then on as Trustee, and now as emeritus. He served on the board as Vice President in 2003, then as President through 2005-09, followed by another tenure as Vice President before his retirement. He was Project Manager for the Stambaugh Concert Hall Restoration in 2003, the Organ Restoration Committee through 2011, and led the redesign of Stambaugh’s South Garden. As his proudest achievement, William was responsible for securing a $750,000 grant from the Joseph G. Bradley Foundation for the Op. 582 E.M. Skinner Concert Pipe Organ restoration at Stambaugh. He also received the 2015 MVHS Director’s Award of Achievement for Historic Preservation and the 2015 Award for Recognition of Service for the Redesign of the Jeanne D. Tyler Ballroom. Additionally, William brought the Stambaugh Chorus and the Western Reserve Ballet into Stambaugh‘s Affiliates and led the acquisition of three new Steinway Pianos. He was instrumental in facilitating a collaboration between the Youngstown Symphony Board of Directors and the Stambaugh Auditorium Board of Directors, bringing the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra to the Stambaugh Auditorium stage as part of its Rededication Celebration. True to his love for symphonic music, William also performed as a tenor with the Youngstown Symphony Choir, participating in performances throughout NE Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York City’s Carnegie Hall, and in Rome, Italy. William is survived by his son Brian, daughter-in-law Elizabeth, and his grandchildren, Aidan Bruce and Audrey Elizabeth of Bainbridge Island, Washington. He also leaves behind his brother, Jim Conti, of Brooklyn, New York. William was preceded in death by his sister Nancy, as well as his lifelong spouse and soulmate, Carole.

Memorial services will be held on June 25 at 2:00 PM, at Stambaugh Auditorium in Youngstown, Ohio. The service will be followed by a short organ performance on the E.M. Skinner Organ that William helped to restore. We ask that in lieu of flowers or gifts, donations in his memory be sent to the Rich Center for Autism [h"p://richcenter.ysu.edu/donate], or the American Heart Association [h"p://www.heart.org].

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Edward J. Fox & Sons Funeral Home, 4700 Market St. Boardman, OH 44512.

Family and friends of William may visit www.foxfuneralhome.org to view this obituary and to leave condolences for the Conti family.

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