Mrs. Adele Judas stated the exact date on which she began working for Yeshiva University, without hesitation. "June 11, 1984," she provided easily, as though she were recalling a cherished occasion, perhaps an anniversary or a birthday.

In the seventeen years since that clearly memorable day, Mrs. Judas' presence in Yeshiva's Housing Office has been a pleasant given for all Yeshiva students privileged to have met her. Sadly, as she retires next week, her remarkable tenure at Yeshiva will end. In her departure, she leaves behind countless students for whom she was iconic of Yeshiva University's rarely encountered good side.

While her official duties required her to distribute Residence Hall mail and otherwise assist the Housing Director, Yeshiva students who know her claim that her legacy far outstrips those quotidian tasks.

A holocaust survivor who says that witnessing the existence of a dynamic Jewish institution like Yeshiva was simply unbelievable for her, and motivated her to assume her position without pause, Mrs. Judas devoted her entire stay at Yeshiva to forging relationships with its students. She sees working in the housing department as a great opportunity to personally help students in vital, but often overlooked aspects of their collegiate lives.

"She is a very special person," commented Head Resident Advisor Dov Feldman, who worked with Mrs. Judas over his two years as an RA. "In a school that sometimes seems cruel and unfriendly Mrs. Judas makes a special effort to go outside the scope of her job and do things that otherwise would fall by the wayside. We're sorry to see her leave."

University Associate Dean of Students Chaim Nissel, who also worked closely with Mrs. Judas while he served as Director of Housing, echoed this sentiment. "She stressed getting to know the students so much," he recalled. "She often went far beyond the parameters of her job to help students."

Highlighting this desire to aid students, Mrs. Judas related how she always endeavored to make sure that all students were satisfied with their rooms and roommates. She explained that many students take the assignment of roommates for granted. They ask to be placed with a specific friend, the other student does likewise, and people assume that everyone lives happily ever after.

One time, she recalled, a student's plans to attend Yeshiva changed right at the end of the summer. His friend lived in California, and was not even aware that he was suddenly without a roommate so close to the start of the semester - and 85% of the students had already been placed. Mrs. Judas scoured the cards of all the remaining students until she found one who struck her as perfect for him. She called the student in California, apprised him the situation, and assured him that he would be pleased with his new roommate. The student was skeptical, naturally, but really had no choice. Two weeks later he marched into the office and personally thanked Mrs. Judas for finding him what would turn out to be a friend for life.

Far from just lending a sympathetic ear, Mrs. Judas enjoyed a good rapport with the various departments throughout the university, and often exploited these connections to help students avoid the general bureaucratic runaround. She recounted that recently a student living in an Independent Housing Program apartment complained that he had received the wrong key for his mailbox. She passed the information on to the appropriate department, but nothing was done. She called again to remind them, stressing the fact that this delay was unfair to the student. Still nothing happened. She then personally relayed the problem to the head of the department, who she was friendly with, and made sure that he would have it taken care of. Such attention to the miniscule details of student concern characterized Mrs. Judas' entire career at Yeshiva.

Following her retirement, Mrs. Judas plans to continue to be actively involved with a support group in Bergen County for former hidden children of the Holocaust. She also hopes to travel and spend more time with her grandchildren.

In a fitting coda to her undying dedication to the students of Yeshiva University, Mrs. Judas decided to stay in this last shabbos. She was recognized during the meal in a moving D'var Torah and tribute by Rabbi Michael Spivak, who expressed the gratitude of all present.