Edward Mahoney-professor emeritus of philosophy and a Catholic priest in the Raleigh Diocese, who passed away Jan. 8-taught my ancient philosophy course in the spring semester of 2003. He was a great man who made sacrifices few of us in the secular world, I think, could ever fully appreciate.
In truth, I remember very little of that class' academic content. What I do recall, with great joy, is the heartfelt admission he made to us on a sunny afternoon when most of us had nodded off to sleep: "Life is short, and you are young."
To me, Mahoney epitomized the classical man whose study he dedicated his life to: thoughtful, rigorous, but guided above all by a passionate faith in humanity and the goodness of the world. I believe Duke still does largely live by this code, albeit in different times and perhaps different ways.
We are fortunate, in the deepest sense of the word, to have had someone like Mahoney in our midst. They do not make many people like him anymore, and I will miss him.
Andrew Gerst
Trinity '06
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