I am fond of referring to several of my female students as my daughters, a designation which a select few retain long after they graduate. But I have another surrogate daughter with whom I have been closer than all my students except one. Adrianne joined my department at age 22 fresh out of college. She was bright, cheerful, outgoing, a ray of sunshine in the department. Over the years she also became one of its very best teachers, and my right-hand person running the department. Since she was not much older than my students when I first met her, it was natural for me to treat her like a daughter, a situation which she reciprocated and seemed to enjoy.

Now she is 29 and pregnant with her first child, a boy who is due in April. This past week we bid farewell to her, and it was far sadder than any graduation day bidding farewell to my students. At least I don’t need to worry about losing her, as I do with most of the students, since we have every intention of staying in touch through email and phone calls.