Pitt Chronicle

With laughter and a few tears, friends and family of the late U.S. District Judge Jay C. Waldman remembered his life during the dedication Tuesday of a new Hillman Library seminar room named in Waldman’s honor.

The intentionally low-key ceremony was a surprise to Pitt students using the library, who got the unexpected chance to mingle with Republican presidential candidate Rudolph Giuliani. The former mayor of New York City interrupted his campaign to participate in the Waldman tribute.

A close friend of Waldman, Giuliani joined Pitt Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg, U.S. Senator Arlen Specter, former Pennsylvania Governor Richard L. Thornburgh (LAW ’57), and dozens of other dignitaries to officially open the new Judge Jay C. Waldman Seminar Room.

Together they orchestrated a major revitalization of Pitt athletics that resulted in nationally ranked programs and state-of-the-art facilities.

That team re-formed Friday when Pitt Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg announced the return of Steve Pederson as the University’s athletic director.

Nordenberg originally tapped Pederson to head Pitt’s athletic department in October 1996. During the next six years, the Panthers’ athletic fortunes elevated dramatically, on and off the field, prompting a Pittsburgh newspaper to dub Pitt “Comeback U.”