Students Honor Former Barnard Dean of Studies

Correction appended.

About 250 family, friends, students, and colleagues of Jayma Ann Abdoo, former Barnard College Dean of Studies, gathered in Barnard Hall on Thursday to celebrate a life of political activeness, social involvement, and moral courage.

Abdoo died of metastatic breast cancer on Aug. 20 at her home in Oradell, NJ. She was 55.

The memorial celebration featured nine speakers-all family and friends of Abdoo-each of whom recounted her in a slightly different light. The mourners shared sentiments of appreciation for Abdoo's contribution to their lives, describing her as a person of grace, generosity, spirit, ferocity, support, and compassion.

"She was a person of strong moral courage, a person with a sense of justice and hard work, but above all she was a second mother to me," said Noah Friedman-Rudovsky, who called Abdoo his godmother.

Mary O'Brien, a childhood friend, noted Abdoo's bravery, which she said began when they were 8-year-olds. O'Brien recalled her involvement in the Camden 28, a group of anti-war activists, which led to her arrest for breaking into a draft board in 1971. Abdoo "strongly believed in justice" throughout her life, O'Brien said.

Lisa Paterson, a friend of Abdoo, called her "the wonderful surprise who showed us how to carry on."

Abdoo had a long history at Columbia. Before receiving her M.A. from the College of William and Mary, Abdoo was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the School of General Studies. Abdoo was involved in the National Lawyers Guild and the Stop Rizzo Coalition and founded the Coalition Against Police Abuse.

In her administrative career, Abdoo was both an Assistant Dean at Barnard College and an advisor to premed, pre-law, and international students. She was remembered by students as one who advocated for the individual, said Lynda Abdoo, her older sister.

"She had connections throughout her life with the young ones," Abdoo said.

The service was underscored by John Lennon's "Imagine," Carole King's "You've Got a Friend," and Bob Dylan's "Forever Young," all set to a piano accompaniment.

Correction: "Students Honor Former Barnard Dean of Studies" (Sept. 22) incorrectly reported Jayma Ann Abdoo's position. Her title was assistant dean.