Memories
New York 1979
OF THE WALDORF By Ellen Cullen Former Head Librarian
A few months ago, the “Wall Street Journal” wrote about celebrity connections to the Waldorf Astoria hotel. How disappointed I was that there was no mention of our NDP girls along with the likes of Sinatra, Cole Porter, Herbert Hoover, and The Who! Those trips were so special that I decided to write a little history of our experiences. To protect the guilty, no students’ names will be mentioned. You know who you are!
85 New York 19
Once upon a time, Sister Ellis Denny received a letter from the Waldorf Astoria inviting students to spend a weekend at the hotel. She accepted the invitation, even though she knew they had made a mistake—the invitation was meant for the college. When the group arrived at the Waldorf, hotel management realized the students were much younger than anticipated. But they had cashed the deposit check, and the rooms were ready. The rest, as they say, is history. Roots & Wings • Spring 2020 • 9
