John Fredette

Alumni A&S '77

My brother and I went to Falk School. Our mother’s office was on the 26th floor of the Cathedral of Learning. We walked down the hill overlooking the campus and would ride the elevators to her office. The elevator operators all recognized us. Sometimes we would play in the Commons Room. There is one special circular staircase from the second floor into the Commons Room. It is lined in stone. It really feels like a castle turret. Walking down that staircase filled my imagination with medieval scenarios. When I was an undergraduate at Pitt my mother’s office had moved to Forbes Quad. I had some classes in the Cathedral but not many. Didn’t hang out in the Commons Room at all. Always thought it was too dark to study. But an incredible space that has been a part of me most of my life.