This month, Newtown Edgmont Friends & Neighbors is pleased to introduce you to The Dryer Family: Doug, Lindsey, James, Alexander and Joshua. Life for the Dryers is filled with family, fun and football – You know, the 90-minute-long game that involves two goals, a black and white checkered ball and goalies? That football.
Edgmont has always been home to Lindsey. She was born and raised here with Ridley Creek State Park in her backyard. Lindsey’s parents purchased a large farm off of Gradyville Rd and subdivided it into what is known as Cedar Knoll. “They kept a large parcel for our family,” she explained. “It was such a special place for me, my sister and my brother to grow up that I knew I wanted to raise my own kids here someday.”
Lindsey went to Glenwood Elementary School and graduated from the Academy of Notre Dame de Namur. During high school, Lindsey competed in equestrian events traveling up and down the East Coast. After high school, Lindsey attended Loyola University Maryland and earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. “I originally wanted to become a forensic psychologist,” she said. “I planned to attend law school first and then pursue an advanced psychology degree.” After earning her J.D. from Widener University School of Law, Lindsey said she decided to forgo further studies to begin practicing law.
In her professional career and service to the community, Lindsey is known as Lindsey Conan. Her practice, Conan Law Offices, LLC, focuses on estate planning, estate administration, guardianships and orphan’s court matters. “I help clients from the estate planning phase through estate administration after a loved one passes away. Often, I’m retained to seek guardianship of someone who has not properly planned for their later years,” she said. “There is nothing more gratifying than having a client send me a note thanking me for helping them through a stressful or sad time in their life.” Lindsey also said that working for herself has been a privilege, allowing her the flexibility to be home when needed for the kids and attend their special events at school during the school day.
Lindsey is also an elected Edgmont Township Supervisor currently serving a six-year term. “My father was a township supervisor for 18 years. He instilled in me a desire to serve my community,” she explained. “I knew that if I ever returned to live in Edgmont to raise my family, I would also run for Supervisor, and I did!” Running for such a position isn’t easy, especially with three young boys, but Lindsey said her husband, Doug was very supportive.
Doug is originally from Mendham (Morris County), NJ. He grew up there with his parents and younger sister. Doug graduated from Delbarton School, an all-male Catholic college-preparatory school, and earned his degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing and a Minor in History from Loyola University Maryland. He continued his studies at Penn State University and earned his MBAwith a concentration in Finance.
Today, Doug is a Client Implementation Manager for one of the world’s leading providers of financial services to institutional investors. “Each client provides their own unique set of challenges, and I have learned throughout my 15-year career within the financial service industry which skills to call upon and how best to assess their needs,” explained Doug.
Doug also said that ever since Covid, he works from home and only goes to the office twice a week. “I have enjoyed being able to meet the older boys at the bus or hang out with Josh while he eats lunch,” he said. “There is a healthy work-life balance that didn’t exist before the pandemic.” Doug also serves the Edgmont community as the Treasurer for the Edgmont Fire Company and coaches his boys’ soccer teams year-round. In his spare time, Doug enjoys running, golfing and playing soccer in Rose Tree’s men’s league.
Doug and Lindsey met during their Junior year at Loyola. Lindsey explained that Doug and his roommates lived above Lindsey and her roommates. “We didn’t date in college, though; we were just friends,” she said. “When we did start dating the year after we graduated, our parents would laugh and roll their eyes when we insisted that we were just friends in college!”
The happy couple married at St. Mary Magdalen in 2009 and held their reception at Overbrook Golf Club. “Our wedding was really special because one of Doug’s high school teachers, who is a Priest, traveled down from Delbarton to marry us,” Lindsey said. After the wedding, Doug and Lindsey decided that they wanted to travel first before having kids. They spent the next six years exploring London, Paris, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. “Doug is a huge fan of Liverpool F.C. (soccer), so during our trip to the United Kingdom, we were able to travel to northwest England to see a match, fulfilling one of Doug’s lifelong dreams,” Lindsey said.
They purchased their first home in Newtown Square in 2010. And, while they enjoyed living there, Lindsey and Doug really wanted to be in Edgmont. “Eventually, we outgrew our Newtown Square home after our second son was born,” said Lindsey. “We looked for a while and held out for the right property.” Their persistence and patience paid off when they found a home that was about to go on the market. “It’s a beautiful neighborhood with a wonderful mix of families and lots of kids,” she said.
James is Lindsey and Doug’s oldest son. He is an active seven-year-old in 1st grade at St. Mary Magdalen. Doug said that James is always up to try anything and loves to play soccer, basketball and golf. James’s favorite subject in school is math, but he is also an avid reader and hopes to play baseball or lacrosse this spring.
Lindsey and Doug’s second child is five-year-old Alexander. He’s in Kindergarten at St. Mary Magdalen. Like his older brother, Alexander plays soccer and golf, and also swims, though Lindsey said that he prefers to be at home in his comfy clothes working on his Lego builds and playing with his construction toys.
Joshua rounds out the bunch. He’s 21⁄2 years old and will attend PreK at St. Mary Magdalen this year. Josh takes swim lessons and his parents said that he cannot wait to start playing soccer like his older brothers.
Last but certainly not least is the Dryer’s 13-year-old Welsh Terrier, Sebastien. He’s named after the family’s favorite former Philadelphia Union Soccer Player, Sebastien LeToux. He is wild and energetic and regularly escapes their yard and runs up and down Sycamore Mills Road while Doug chases after him.
Family time for Lindsey, Doug and the boys is active and fun! In addition to soccer, basketball, golf and swim lessons, they enjoy going to Philadelphia Union soccer games. “We have been season ticket holders since their inaugural season,” Doug said. “Our two tickets grew to four, and now it looks like we’ll have to add a fifth seat because Josh is getting a little too big to sit on our laps.”
The neighborhood they live in also lends itself to supporting the family’s active lifestyle. Their home is on a cul-de-sac, perfect for their boys to ride bikes and run around with their friends. They also live adjacent to Ridley Creek State Park, so Lindsey and Doug can hop right on the park trail when they want to go for a run. They said that living in the western part of the township still feels relatively untouched by all the recent development. “We love that we can go out for a short walk, see horses and take in the countryside.”
Thank you, Doug, Lindsey, James, Alexander and Joshua, for sharing your story. Your love for each other, your neighbors and your service to the community is admirable and inspirational. Do you know a Newtown Edgmont family, individual or nonprofit group who should become known by our community? Make your nominations for upcoming feature articles by emailing your ideas to Sheila Turner-Hilliard at STurnerHilliard@BestVersionMedia.com.