Barbara Bates Conroy

Barbara Bates Conroy is a mother, advocate, and author of the best-selling book Dear Jack: A Love Letter. When her son Jack passed away from a heroin overdose in 2015, Barbara continued to write letters to him, just as she had been doing since he was a baby. In Dear Jack: A Love Letter, Barbara shares her highly personal and tragic experiences with drug addiction, family discord, loss, and grief through these letters and raw prose recounting the past and exploring questions of motherhood, responsibility, guilt, and spirituality.

Barbara’s professional career has spanned a variety of industries which includes business, marketing, and the healing arts. Barbara served as Vice President of Retail Development at Polo Ralph Lauren and as President of Tommy Hilfiger Men’s Division. Barbara is also a Registered Nurse, and is certified in Hatha Yoga, Prenatal Yoga, Medicinal 0ils, and Reiki Level 2.  Barbara sits on the board of Fly Yoga Outreach (MV) and is on the operating board of Misty Meadows Equine Learning Center on Martha’s Vineyard.  She resides on Martha’s Vineyard.