The late Jude P. Dougherty, dean emeritus and professor emeritus of the Catholic University School of Philosophy, was remembered by former faculty colleagues, family and friends, who gathered for the installation of a bust sculpture of the dean during a brief ceremony on July 21. Dougherty, who served as dean from 1967 to 1999, died on March 6, 2021.
The bronze-cast bust was sculpted by H. Reed Armstrong, an internationally renowned artist and friend of Dougherty, whose works appear in churches, public spaces, and private collections worldwide. The artist’s son Andrew Armstrong, M.S.L.S. 1994, delivered the sculpture, which has been donated to the School.
In remarks, Msgr. Robert Sokolowski, Elizabeth Breckenridge Caldwell Professor of Philosophy, praised Dougherty for his keen administrative and leadership abilities as a dean and as the longtime editor (1971 to 2015) of The Review of Metaphysics. Msgr. Sokolowski also spoke of his virtues of generosity, wisdom and hospitality that Dougherty exhibited throughout his life toward his family, friends, colleagues, and students.
“All of this is embodied in a work of art,” Msgr. Sokolowski said.
The ceremony included Michael Dougherty and Paul Dougherty, two of Dougherty’s four sons; John C. McCarthy, dean of philosophy; Rev. John F. Wippel, professor emeritus; and Jean De Groot, professor emerita, as well as several former colleagues and friends.