My late father so treasured Cornell that decades after he graduated in 1934 his framed diploma dominated the living room of our apartment in Brooklyn (and later was proudly displayed over my desk during the 12 years that I worked for the university). But there was always just a hint of some misgivings about his undergraduate experience that he never discussed.

By the time I received my job offer from Hank Dullea in 1993, Dad was deep in the throes of Alzheimer's disease, and I could only hope that some of the pleasure of my going to work for the university he so loved would sink in.

"You know, I am going to work at Cornell," I said on a visit to Florida.

"Yes," he said and a few minutes later added spontaneously: "Edward, when you get to Cornell, find a place called CURW. They'll be very helpful. They can help show you a place to live. CURW."

CURW. He enunciated each letter slowly and purposefully. At that moment I did not know what to make of his unexpected 60-year memory flash, but I soon came to understand what Cornell United Religious Work was and a lot more. In September 1930 when Philip Hershkowitz arrived in Ithaca armed with an agile mind, a Cornell scholarship and very little cash, the university still expected students to find their own housing, and Ithaca was still a place where Jews were not always welcome as tenants.

Well into the dementia that stole his brilliant mind of its memory, my father remembered how important Cornell United Religious Work had been to him. It is only now that I read of your 80th anniversary celebration that I understand your organization was but a year old when it helped him settle in. So please know that CURW did vital work from its inception.

Have a worthy celebration!

Ed Hershey (former director of Cornell Publications and Marketing), Communications Director, Service Employees International Union Local 503, Oregon Public Employees Union, Salem and Portland, Oregon.