Minette Conrad Trosch

Minette Conrad Trosch passed away at her home on Friday morning April 27, 2018 surrounded by her loving family. She was born on November 3, 1942 in Chicago, Illinois, but lived in Charlotte virtually her entire life. Minette was preceded in death by her parents, Theodore C. Conrad (T.C.) and Mary G. Conrad. She is survived by her husband Louis A. Trosch, Sr., her son Louis A. Trosch, Jr. and his wife Catherine J. Trosch, William C. Trosch (Bill) and his wife Lisa M. Trosch, Eric C. Trosch and his wife Elizabeth T. Trosch, and seven grandchildren; Louis A. Trosch, III, Pressley C. Trosch, William C. Trosch, Jr. (Liam), Kenzie L. Trosch, Gavin M Trosch, Alexander T. Trosch (Alec) and Joseph T. Trosch. She is also survived by her five siblings, Mary Jo C. Cresimore, Theodore C. Conrad and his wife Patty Conrad, Carolyn C. Trapp and her husband Vann Trapp, Virginia C. Herran and her husband Peter Herran and Doris C. Wells and her husband Charles Wells.

Minette graduated from Myers Park High School in 1960. She received her B.A. in Political Science from DePauw University in 1964, her Masters Degree in Counseling from West Virginia University in 1972 and her J.D. in Law with honors from UNC-Chapel Hill, as the oldest student in her graduating class (age 53) in 1995.

She married Lou, Sr. in 1965 and they enjoyed 52 years together. They were and still are soul mates. The couple moved to Charlotte following their nuptials and Minette taught 9th grade history at Smith Junior High School until she became pregnant with her first child. For the next 12 years she remained a housewife busy raising her three sons, Lou, Eric, and Bill, while still finding the time to volunteer for numerous civic organizations. Always a grassroots neighborhood activist, she was persuaded to seek public office in 1977, when Charlotte shifted to a district representation system. In that year she became one of the first women on City Council, successfully running to represent District 5. This began a decade of service on the Charlotte City Council. In 1983 she was selected as the Mayor Pro-Tem after receiving the highest vote total in the at-large race. She won her fifth and final council race in 1985 and ended that term having served with distinction for ten years. In her farewell announcement she summed up her approach to city governance:

The challenge to elected officials and private citizens is to make Charlotte a humane city. This can only be achieved by serving the citizens of Charlotte rather than some elusive national image. My primary objective has always been to build and preserve a city of substance rather than a city committed to having the biggest and the most at the expense of its quality of life.

During her time as an elected official she was also recognized as an expert by numerous state and national associations, including election to the National League of Cities’ Board of Directors, appointment to the National Institute of Environmental Health Services Advisory Council, selection to the Federal Hazardous Materials Advisory Committee, and assignment to the Governor’s Urban Transportation Task Force. Her expansive knowledge of transportation and telecommunication issues led to her testifying before Congress and being tapped to negotiate a congressional process that created a Federal Telecommunications Act.

Following her political career in 1988 she began an entirely new chapter of her life as the CEO of “Take A Break” office convenience stores. She took over a struggling company and in only three years transformed it from a one store operation into a thriving 4 store franchise that consistently produced positive revenue and was successfully sold in 1990.

In 1992 she started yet another life chapter when she entered law school at UNC School of Law. Despite traveling back and forth from Chapel Hill to Charlotte every week, she excelled there. After receiving her degree with honors in 1995, she returned to Charlotte to practice as a domestic relations/family law attorney. Before becoming a partner in the firm she created and developed a thriving family law department at Conrad, Trosch & Kemmy P.A. A Counselor of Law in every sense of the word, Minette was a zealous advocate for all of her clients. She was known for her determination and attention to detail. Minette was respected in the legal community by her fellow attorneys and judges. Moreover, she was beloved by her clients. Minette never fully retired from her stellar career, continuing to mentor associates through her battle with Cancer.

In her lifetime of four careers she received numerous awards and citations, which culminated with her induction into The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, for her outstanding public service to her community and the State of North Carolina in 2012.

Although her public service to her community was truly outstanding, Minette always felt her greatest accomplishments were as a mother to her three sons and grandmother to her seven grandchildren. In addition, all of her sons’ friends have always gathered at her home from early childhood until this very day. She welcomed them all into her home where the doors were always open, filled their bellies with food, candy and ice cream, challenged them to question their assumptions, and most importantly, opened her heart to help them through whatever life challenges they faced. During her battle with Cancer their notes, cards, and emails stand as testaments to the impact she had on all of their lives. Simply put, she was a second mother to a multitude of young people.

Minette loved to be surrounded by people. In her latter years she also made sure that she entertained her children, grandchildren, and their friends with a huge weekly Sunday meal. In addition, every Thanksgiving and Christmas she had dinners for upwards of 40 family members and friends, which always continued the next day with what became known as “Turkey Hash” Day.

One common thread runs through all aspects of this remarkable life. Minette truly cared about everyone who entered her life, all the way down to their very core, and she welcomed them all into her heart. She loved people and they loved her back. Hers was a life truly well lived.

The family would like to express our gratitude to The Levine Cancer Center and Hospice and Palliative Care of Charlotte. They were a tremendous support to Minette during her illness.

A memorial service will be held at Myers Park Baptist Church on Thursday, May 3, 2018 at 1:00 PM. After the funeral a reception will be held in the Church’s Great Hall.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in Minette’s memory to Freedom School Partners, Justice Initiatives, and/or Refugee Support Services of the Carolinas, Inc.