Jane Zembaty, a University of Dayton professor emerita and the first woman faculty member in the UD Department of Philosophy, died July 18. She was 94.
Colleagues remembered Zembaty as a “trailblazer” who followed a nontraditional path to academia. After graduating from high school in her native Buffalo, New York, Zembaty worked for a number of years in her husband’s machine shop. Her husband died unexpectedly when she was in her early 30s. She then pursued higher education, earning a bachelor’s degree from Buffalo State University and master’s and doctoral degrees in philosophy from Georgetown University.
Zembaty joined the UD faculty in August 1975 and retired in May 1997 with the rank of professor emerita. She specialized in classical Greek philosophy and published numerous articles including “Plato's Republic and Greek Morality on Lying” and “Aristotle on Lying.”
During her time at UD, she also developed a specialization in social philosophy. She co-edited, with Thomas A. Mappes, Social Ethics: Morality and Social Policy and Biomedical Ethics.
Zembaty taught Greek philosophy, Hume, social philosophy and other courses for students pursuing a master’s degree, major or minor in philosophy, as well as for students fulfilling general education requirements.
“Students appreciated her as a brilliant thinker, precise in reading and explaining philosophy, and calm and kind in her interactions with them,” said Patricia Johnson, distinguished service professor and professor emerita of philosophy. “Many praised her for helping them learn how to write with thoughtfulness and clarity.”
As the first woman faculty member in the department, Zembaty inspired women students to succeed in a discipline that was then dominated by men. She was steadfast in her commitment to encouraging and mentoring women in philosophy.
“When I joined the department in 1979, she immediately pulled me into ongoing work to develop a feminist philosophy course and a minor in women’s studies,” Johnson said. “Some years later we sponsored the Hermes Award for excellence in women’s studies.”
Zembaty chaired the philosophy department for four years during the early 1980s; she was the first woman to do so.
Bill Marvin, a retired UD principal lecturer of philosophy, recalled her as “smart, cool and very fair.”
Marvin attended philosophy graduate school at Kent State University during the late 1970s but didn’t finish his studies. When he decided to complete his philosophy studies, he walked into Zembaty’s office unannounced and was given an interview on the spot. She offered him a graduate assistantship as a result of their discussion, pending the submission of his transcripts from Kent State.
“I received the assistantship and completed my studies at UD,” Marvin said. “Jane was my professor for a course on Aristotle. She was a good teacher and very supportive of her students. Her support of me helped jump-start my career in academic philosophy.”
When she retired, Zembaty donated her philosophy library to the philosophy degree program UD was developing for Marianist brothers in Bangalore, India.
During retirement, Zembaty traveled extensively in Europe and beyond. “She had several extended stays in Oxford and London, and particularly enjoyed attending the London theater,” said Marilyn Fischer, UD professor emerita of philosophy.
“When Jane moved to Bethany Village Retirement Community, she quickly initiated a book club and a film club, which are still ongoing,” Fischer said. “She was also active in setting up a number of courses for the residents.”