May 5, 2024

Dear David and Karen,

I hired your son Conor at the New York Post in April 2021. My colleague Paul and I were immediately struck by his sweetness and eagerness to learn. He took feedback so well, and strove to do his best in everything he tackled. We loved working with him, and I still feel his loss and think of him often.

There was never any doubt that Conor was special. But I didn’t realize how special until this year, when something happened that touched me very deeply. This is why I am writing to you now.

In January 2023, I moved onto a new job as Managing Editor of The Free Press. We are a startup journalism company, recruiting lots of new writers and editors to our team. One writer, by the name River Page, crossed my path recently. He has enormous talent, but comes from a small town in Texas with parents who have no connections to the world of journalism. Last month, I flew River up to NYC to have lunch with me and discuss joining our team.

I asked him straight off: How did you get into journalism? How did you even know you could write?

He said he had been writing online and on Twitter for a while when he wrote one piece on a niche blog that got some attention, particularly from a writer at the New York Post. He said, “His name was Conor Skelding. He was so supportive of me. He helped me make connections at the publication American Affairs, and that led to me having a career.”

I was stunned. I told River I had hired Conor, and we talked about what a great guy he was. Suddenly I felt like Conor was still in the world, working his magic, doing a good turn for people just because that was how he was wired. He was still helping River, and in fact, he was helping me, too, because I have since hired River full-time, and he is now an incredible addition to my team.

I wanted you to know your son is still making a difference in people’s lives. He was a truly giving soul, and his legacy is strong even though he left us very young. When I work with River now, I think of Conor, and how this young reporter might not have had the opportunity at The Free Press if it weren’t for your son.

I hope this story gives you some comfort. Sending you the warmest of thoughts as you continue to remember Conor, and all the good he brought to the world.

With gratitude, Margi Conklin