Tribute to Trudy Conway, Ph.D.

TRUDY CONWAY, PH.D., PROFESSOR EMERITA, died Friday, July 30, 2021, at home surrounded by her loved ones after an extended illness. She was 70 years old.

The much loved and widely accomplished professor of philosophy began her career at the Mount in 1979, when she returned to the United States with her husband Abdolreza “Huschang” Banan from Iran where she and Dr. Banan had been teaching at Shiraz University.

Conway loved teaching, learning and giving. She approached each day with a kind of joie de vivre that drew students and faculty to her. Ever the curious deep thinker with a penetrating intelligence, she graduated from The Mary Louis Academy in Queens with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Brentwood (1968), and continued on to The College of New Rochelle for her bachelor’s degree (1972). She earned her doctorate in philosophy from Fordham University.

She savored the challenge and reward of academic life, immersing herself in numerous research areas including cross-cultural dialogue and restorative justice. Her body of scholarly work is a testament to her intellect and work ethic and an enduring contribution to the academic community. She published two of her own books, Wittgenstein on Foundations (1989) and Cross-Cultural Dialogue on the Virtues: The Contribution of Fethullah Gülen (2014), and edited two more, Where Justice and Mercy Meet: Catholic Opposition to the Death Penalty (2013) and Redemption and Restoration: A Catholic Perspective on Restorative Justice (2017) with David M. McCarthy, Ph.D., and Vicki Schieber, Ph.D.

In addition to the decades she spent in the classroom, mentoring students and faculty alike, Conway found time to write several books and multiple scholarly articles, serve as associate dean of the college, begin the University Honors Program and initiate a study abroad program that would become the model for the Mount's current international studies program.

Conway chaired the Department of Philosophy from 1999-2005, was the inaugural holder of the Delaplaine Professorship and held another endowed chair, the Msgr. Klein Chair of Philosophy, for many years. Conway was also instrumental in establishing a chapter of the Delta Epsilon Sigma Honor Society at the Mount, and served as its advisor until her retirement in 2015. Her work with students at the Mount to end the death penalty in Maryland was legendary and most effective.

Trudy’s love for experiencing other cultures was evident in her travels, teaching, home and community life. She was married for 44 years to Dr. Abdolreza Banan, and together they raised their children, Sedira and Daniel, in a bi-cultural, bi-religious home, in which they embraced the virtues of hospitality, tolerance and generosity.

By Stephen Schwing, C’92

I WAS BLESSED TO BE MENTORED BY TRUDY CONWAY during my time at the Mount. She was a joyful Christian who took our mission of loving God and saving souls seriously. A person of her intellect, professionalism and charm could teach anywhere and fortunately for us she knew how special the Mount is and dedicated her career to us. Her joy came from knowing the truth that Jesus saved us so that we can live in paradise with him forever. She saw God in every one of us and was determined to make sure seeds were planted in us so that the Spirit would finish the work. When I look back on my time with her, I think Matthew 10:16 describes her best: “Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.”

I met Dr. Trudy my first week at the Mount. Our first assignment was to write about something we love doing. The next day after turning it in she began our class reading my story about catching a bass. She told me that Dr. Craft caught a big one in her pond and I was welcome to fish there any time, after all nobody ever fishes it any way. I thought GOLD MINE. After class I asked her where she lived. She said in Orrtanna. I rushed back to my dorm, grabbed my fishing gear and as I was walking out of the dorm Charlie Horning asked where I was going fishing. I said: “I just got intel on a farm pond that no one fishes. Grab your stuff!”

From the onset we were catching bass every cast. Charlie left one of his fish on line in the water as he was lighting a cigarette. All of a sudden there was a huge explosion on the line. A monster bass had eaten the smaller one on the line. Then we started using smaller bass as bait and live lining them. We caught huge world-class bass that day and at many more outings to the pond. It was a treat of a lifetime and Dr. Trudy loved seeing us there. To this day we call huge bass “Conway Killers.”

On one trip I had the pleasure of meeting her husband and children. She told me Dr. Banan was from Iran and they lived there for many years teaching. When I heard he was from Iran, I thought about how he’s from an enemy country. As I got to know her and Dr. Banan, I wondered how he could be an enemy as he was so kind and friendly. It was the first time in my life I was able to critically question propaganda. It was an important lesson I learned from her lifestyle, something I probably would not have learned until far later in life.

Toward the end of my second semester, I told Dr. Trudy I was going to transfer because my classes were not challenging enough, and I needed to go to a better college. She told me not to leave because she created a new Honors Program she wanted me to join. Most importantly, she said it would be a mistake to leave the Mount. Little did I know at the time, but she was spot on. She spoke to me in the way that my mother would when things got serious. When I told her I would stay, she lit up and gave me a hug. I never had a teacher care so much about me and in a loving manner. The Honors Program was challenging and it stretched me. The program was special in that it treated us like important people destined for something great. Dr. Trudy was full of surprises like guest speakers, outings and dinners at the Carriage House.

We studied Aristotle who taught us that you get to control the quality of your life and the qualities you choose to possess. Socrates taught us to think for ourselves and do not accept what tradition and authority tell us. Plato taught us that happiness was the highest aim of moral thought and the only way to achieve it was from the practice of virtue.

Toward the end of my sophomore year, I told her I needed something more, and I wanted to transfer. She told me to study abroad. I studied in Austria where there was plenty of mountain biking and snowboarding. It was an adventure of a lifetime and I learned so much about a different culture, which was a love of hers. My year abroad was ended in the second semester as the Gulf War started. Before leaving, I experienced other worldviews and opinions of the U.S. The information I was getting from Europeans was completely different than what I was receiving from America. It was really eye opening and uncomfortable being in a foreign country whose people did not like our status as world police. Once again Dr. Trudy’s guidance taught me something I would have never gotten had I left the Mount.

I arrived back to the Mount mid-semester and my friends and teachers were very happy to see me. It was then I realized the Mount is my home. I walked into a party that evening and I met one of the most beautiful girls I ever saw. Laura and I have been happily married for 22 years. Dr. Trudy was disappointed for me in that I had to cut the year short, but she was so happy to see me. I told her I wasn’t sure if I could catch up in the Honors classes and maybe I should sit the semester out of Honors. She said, “No way. You can do it and I will take care of you if you get in trouble.” At the end of that semester, we had to line up our senior Honors project and pick a mentor. I was an economics major and a competitive snowboarder. With the help of my mentor Dr. Stanton, we came up with an idea of putting an economic value on preserving Ski College Mountain. I had Dr. Stanton for other classes and he was tough as nails, but smart. We had a lot of tough meetings. I got burned out, but he and Dr. Trudy pushed me through and I got an A on it.

Dr. Trudy arranged a few nice outings and dinners to celebrate our successful completion of her program. She had special medals and honors for us at graduation that we did not know about. She was so thrilled and proud of our accomplishments. The satisfaction on her face was overwhelming. It was very special and made my parents so proud.

Those four years studying under her guidance would prove to be the foundation of the incredible life I have lived thus far. Dr. Trudy had a special gift in that she had visions of where her students could go and how to prepare them for that journey. That is why she worked so hard to keep me at the Mount. First and foremost, I met my wife at the Mount. She is an amazing mother and she teaches first grade in a Catholic school. The guy I met on my way to Dr. Trudy’s pond, he and I have won more than $3 million in fishing tournaments. We have caught some of the biggest fish you can imagine. I still maintain great relationships with many of my fellow Mounties. I have helped build large technology companies, and I have been in business for myself for more than 20 years.

Last year I got back in touch with Dr. Trudy and we had some great conversations. She was thrilled to hear about my endeavors and very happy that I was still in pursuit of my passion for fishing. Dr. Trudy was the fisherperson. She got me on the hook and every time I tried to get away she would lighten up on the drag and let me run—but she always kept the line tight and finessed it so I would not get away. It wasn’t until she taught me the real skills of life that she would release me. The reason for releasing a fish is so it can grow larger and live more abundantly. I did not get a chance to give her the good news that my son is a freshman at the Mount, and he is enrolled in the Honor's Program. He is an accomplished nationally ranked mountain biker. We have spent a good deal of time this summer working with Bob Brennan, C’85, and Kraig Sheetz, Ph.D., to set up the new mountain bike team that will compete at the highest collegiate level this semester. In spending time with them, I can see that Dr. Trudy had her influence on them as they have taken a loving mentoring approach toward Ian. God has blessed us all so much with our Mount family. Is it any wonder why hundreds of thousands of people make pilgrimages to this most holy mountain every year?