Remembering Dr. John Conway (1929 – 2017)

The entire WUSC network is very saddened to hear of the passing of Dr. John Conway. John passed away on June 23, 2017, surrounded by his family.

Born in London, England, John received his MA and PhD from St. John’s College, Cambridge before he moved to Canada in 1955 to take a job teaching at the University of Manitoba. On his journey to Manitoba, John met his future wife, Ann, and the two were married in 1957. That same year, he left Manitoba to work at the University of British Columbia (UBC).

John joined the Department of History at UBC, where he worked for nearly 40 years. As a teacher, he engaged and challenged his students, while fostering in them the ability to think independently. During his time at UBC, John took on the role of Faculty Advisor for the WUSC Local Committee. Only the second person at UBC to hold this role, he went on to hold the position for approximately two decades.

In addition to his work on the UBC campus, John’s commitment and involvement with WUSC extended across a number of areas. In 1961, John took part in the International Seminar to Sweden. This seminar focused on the subject of welfare, both for the individual and the state, and participants had the opportunity to study Sweden’s welfare system and relate it back to Canada. John also acted as a homestay host for WUSC’s international students, before eventually becoming a member of the WUSC Board of Directors. John was a dedicated and appreciated member of the WUSC community and his presence will surely be missed.

Throughout his life, John was very involved in volunteerism. He dedicated his time and efforts to numerous organizations beyond WUSC, including the Student Christian Movement and the Canadian Institute of International Affairs. He was also the Director of the Tibetan Refugee Aid Society for 10 years. While he was based in Vancouver, John also devoted his time and skills to Regent College, where he was a guest lecturer, friend, and mentor to many. John was always interested in helping others and he is remembered fondly for his generosity towards those less fortunate than he was.

In his free time, John enjoyed playing the cello and spending time outdoors cycling, skiing, and hiking with his wife Ann. He will be missed by Ann, his children David, Jane, and Alison, along with his grandchildren, and other family and friends.