Aubrey Peter Walshe, professor emeritus in the Department of Political Science at the University of Notre Dame, died on March 9th, 2025, at the age of 91. He died at home with family present. Both a lifetime away and a world apart, he was born in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1934. He moved in childhood to Bulawayo in what was then the British colony of Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). In Bulawayo, he attended Milton School finishing up as Head Boy/Head of School. He was a member of the South African Schools’ Cricket XI.
In 1952, he ‘went up’ to the University of Oxford, Wadham College, studying PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics). At university, he played cricket at an international level gaining three Oxford ‘blues’. Most importantly, whilst at Oxford, he met a nursing student, Ann Pettifer, the one love of his life and his wife of 68 years. They married young in 1957.
He taught for a short period at Pius XII Catholic University College in Basutoland (now Lesotho) and then first came to the University of Notre Dame to teach in 1962. A young family was now in tow. Supported by Notre Dame, he completed a doctorate at Saint Anthony’s College, University of Oxford, returning to Notre Dame in 1967. For the next four decades, he was a dedicated professor and teacher, receiving the Sheedy Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2004. In 1979 he was the first recipient of the university’s Grenville Clark Award for service to advance the cause of peace and human rights.
His academic areas included African Nationalism, Church and State, the politics and history of Sub-Saharan Africa and Christian Socialism. Over the decades, he brought immense moral idealism to his teaching. To some, including cynics, this may at times have come across as naive. He was, however, very often on the right side of history. During his tenure, he did have profound disagreements with the university administration. Most notably, during the South African Apartheid years, he pushed unsuccessfully for complete university divestment from a cruel political entity. On a much happier note, for two decades, he organized and treasured a campus summer institute for missionaries heading to Africa. While never completely at home in the United States (and ill at ease with its version of capitalism), he was always immensely grateful to Notre Dame. It was a privilege for him to teach generations of Notre Dame students. Also, the university was the foundation for his and Ann’s wonderful long friendships within the university and wider South Bend community.
During his last year, which was characterized by worsening frailty, he showed gentleness, dignity and courage. He will be remembered by his family and friends as a kind man and extremely honorable soul. He is survived by his wife, Ann, four children (Sally, Jane, Dominic and Emma) and four grandchildren (Charlotte, Arabella, Lillian and Gwyneth).
Funeral services will be held at 2:00pm, Monday March 17, 2025, at Broadway Christian Parish, 1412 Carroll St., South Bend, IN 46613. A private burial will be held at Cedar Grove, Notre Dame, IN. Palmer Funeral Home – River Park Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements.
Contributions in memory of Peter can be made to Broadway Christian Parish (United Methodist Church), 1412 S. Carroll Street, South Bend IN 46613.
Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.