Tracy Gearing Conte

Surrounded by her family and many friends, Tracy "Tray" (Gearing) Conte passed away at Rhode Island Hospital on Thursday, July 27th, following a brief illness.

Tracy was born in Providence on June 6, 1969 to Myrna (Conte) Gearing and the late George Gearing. She graduated from Cranston High School East in 1987 and studied Theatre Performance at Rhode Island College, completing her B.A. in 1993.

Tracy is survived by her husband Chris Conte and their dog Clementine, her beloved mother Myrna, cousins, aunts and uncles, and many, many friends as well. She is also survived by her siblings, George Gearing (and his children Jackson and Emma), Jody Nivins (Mike) of Cranston, and Jeff Gearing (Erica) of Narragansett.

Tray performed for years with many local theaters, including the 2nd Story Theater in Warren, Epic Theater and the Park Theatre in Cranston, where she met her husband Chris in the premiere production of "The Murder Trial of John Gordon," that highlighted events in Cranston in the 1830's which led to the abolition of the death penalty in Rhode Island. She was collaborating with the newly formed Hawkridge Center for the Arts of Pawtucket when she became ill.

Having lived briefly in both Queens, NY and Martha's Vineyard, MA, she ran her own house cleaning business "Tidy by Tray" for decades, and worked several years as a theater teacher at J.O.N.A.H. Community Center in Oakland Beach and at the House of Little People in Barrington, where she had the great fortune to begin a childcare relationship with Matty and Ian Pirraglia, whose family remain a central part of her life to this day.

Tray loved the outdoors, from her earliest days gardening at her grandfather's side in their family garden, a practice which she continued throughout her life - it provided a much needed outdoor retreat during the pandemic - to the camp in Maine where Tray, her husband and friends would spend many weeks during the Summer.

Tray lit up every room she entered, was welcoming and kind to all, and had as big a personality in person as she had on stage. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

There will be a celebration of life for Tray at First Unitarian Universalist Church located at 1 Benevolent Street in Providence on Wednesday, August 2, 2023 at 6:00 pm.



 

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