Man dies in fire aboard boat at Dorchester club

Officials say blaze may have been accidental

Melvin Conroy had retired after decades as a Boston schoolteacher and was living the good life, enjoying the sun and the sea, when his wooden boat caught fire with him aboard at the Dorchester Yacht Club yesterday, killing him.

Fire officials said the blaze, at about 12:45 a.m., may have been accidental, but they are still investigating. Officials said it is not suspicious. The fire, roaring when crews first arrived, was contained to the one boat, an old-fashioned, 36-foot vessel.

Conroy, 64, who lived most recently in Pembroke, was remembered by family and friends yesterday as the epitome of a fun-loving boater who enjoyed the outdoors almost as much as he loved his family.

"That's what he said it was all about," a son, John, 34, said yesterday. Conroy had two other sons - Jason, 31, and Melvin Jr., 38 - and three grandchildren.

The elder Conroy owned seven True Value hardware stores in the South Shore along with the 1963 Chris Craft boat, which he named My Three Sons in honor of his three children. He planned to travel with his children and former wife, Winnifred Conroy, to the Dominican Republic next month for Melvin Jr.'s wedding. Conroy also had a longtime partner whom he planned to marry, Elisa Rindini.

His family said he was a successful businessman who owned rental properties in Boston decades ago and sold them to buy the hardware stores. He enjoyed being a teacher for 34 years but was taking advantage of his retirement, too.

"He's just been enjoying his life ever since," John said.

Conroy grew up in Mission Hill and lived in Halifax before moving to Pembroke.

He was a fixture at Dorchester Yacht Club and was known to sleep on his boat. He served as chairman of the regatta committee and frequently put together social activities.

He was also a sort of steward for the club, too, pumping gas, putting on coffee, and keeping the place clean.

"Mel Conroy was the epitome of what the Dorchester Yacht Club stood for, enjoying the sea, the sun, and the outdoors with good friends and family," the Yacht Club said in a statement.

Eric Moskowitz and Andrew Ryan of the Globe staff and Globe correspondents Anne Baker and Casey Ramsdell contributed to this report.