All the best to you, Conor
Letter to the Editor
Conor, since the day we, your fellow students, friends and participants of the Washington, D.C. Spring Semester Studies Program, met you we knew you were full of promise, compassion, knowledge and strength, someone that everyone in the program wanted to know and share time with. We quickly found out that you were as optimistic, idealistic and passionate as your hero and idol Robert Kennedy. In fact, it was apparent very early in our relationship that just like Bobby preached, you did not see things as they are and say "why?" You dreamed things that never were and said "why not?"
Who else would on the first day of class make such an impression on his peers that they would sincerely believe he could be president of the United States some day, as you professed was your aspiration? Who else has the ability to raise the level of discussion in and outside of the classroom in such a way that others felt inspired to literally take notes of what that person is saying? Who else has the ability to provoke feelings of pride and passion in his fellow students, just as you did when you played the part of a Civil War general attempting to rally his troops?
The answer is simple: Only you, Conor. Only you could have had such a profound and deep impact on fellow students and friends. And because of this, just as we felt when you were first taken away from us, there is a deep sense of void upon your departure. We are writing to tell you that we miss you.
Your smile, your wit and your thoughts were precious gifts. If only we could be playing a game of Hearts together this semester, too. How we would delight to see you literally eat the scorecard of your opponent when you were defeated! If only we could hear you defend the right to life of the unborn like you did one day after class? What joy it would give us to see the passion in your eyes and to hear the distraught tone of your voice. If only we could share a drink with you at Nanny O'Briens or Murphy's, two of our favorite Irish pubs in Washington, D.C. How happy we would be to share another with you when we arrived back to the apartment. If only we had these things and more, we could tell you how your intellect, ambition and strong will affected us all.
Your time on earth was too short, but just as the Biblical passage at your funeral said: The age that is honorable comes not with the passing of time, nor can it be measured in terms of years. Instead, it is measured by one's understanding and faith. Thus, the value of your life was immeasurable and in a short time you reached the fullness of a long career.
In the depth of your own despair, you were our rock in a sea full of crashing waves, as you were for so many others. In our teleconferences with you it was difficult for us to communicate to you just how much we were pulling for you and praying that your condition improved. However, our own efforts were futile. When you said you and God were going to beat your cancer, we believed you. And beat it you did. Never did your faith waver. Never did you forget who you were and where you came from. Never did you forget your friends from the Washington, D.C .program. For this, we thank you.
God bless you, Conor. You will live in us always. Heaven certainly is a better place because you are there, as we are better people for knowing you.
Kevin Dunn
Members of the '00 Washington, D.C. Spring Program
February 7, 2001
All Viewpoint Stories for Thursday, February 8, 2001
