Saintly behavior.

Let me add my voice to the well-deserved accolades accorded Sr. Rose Thering, including Judith Banki's touching tribute to her ("Pivotal Figure," June 16). When the time comes to nominate Sr. Rose for beatification, I'll be happy to give testimony in the affirmative. If I understand the history of Roman Catholic saints correctly, I believe most of them, if not all, were pains in the butt to live with. Same with Sr. Rose. I was her dean at Seton Hall University for six-plus years. No one could send me sprinting to my office faster than the sight of Sr. Rose coming down the corridor. I never managed to outmaneuver her, however. Invariably, she would march into the office right behind me and insist that I should improve the world by some tangible measure, immediately. She wanted a better office. She'd prefer the building to be five degrees cooler. No, make that five degrees warmer. My favorite request from Sr. Rose came the day that she burst into my office, unannounced as always, and demanded that I accompany her right now to inspect the women's restroom on the third floor. I tried to sound firm, but not condescending, when I replied, "Rose, dear, I'm not going to tour the ladies' john with you. No, this is too much to ask, Sister." She plopped down in a chair, waiting for me to change my mind. I did. We went. Her plan was for me to convert an overly large bathroom into combination bathroom and faculty lunchroom. I balked. She yelled.

Sr. Rose was a piece of work, one of the Creator's very best. Some day, perhaps, she'll be a saint. Meanwhile, I pity St. Peter if he's in charge of accommodations in the hereafter.

JAMES VanOOSTING

South Orange, N.J.