Judy MacDonald, a Food and Nutrition employee at L+M, showed off a newly made wrap and her dazzling smile. After 50 years on the job, she plans to keep offering both to her many satisfied customers.
Once, said Judith “Judy” MacDonald, “I thought about becoming an airline stewardess.”
Her face takes on a “what if” expression, full of intrigue and good humor.
“But,” she said, “when you like what you do, you just keep on doing it. And time flies.”
MacDonald, a Food and Nutrition employee– and L+M’s undisputed champion sandwich and wrap maker – is celebrating a special milestone. No, she is not retiring – she’s marking 50 years on the job.
Looking back – she started at L+M in 1976 at age 16 – there’s really no job MacDonald hasn’t handled with skill and flair. She’s delivered meals to rooms. She’s cleaned (pretty much everything). She’s worked the registers. And many years ago, she worked the phones, taking food orders from patients.
Times have changed, but day after day, year after year, MacDonald just rolled with whatever came her way; frankly, she always kind of loved it.
On Halloween, she’s been known to don a funny outfit; during COVID, she dutifully donned a mask. During a major blizzard this past winter, at the end of her shift, MacDonald stayed on, just to make sure the cafeteria was open for those who might need it. “I slept on that bench over there,” she said, pointing to a booth in a corner of the cafeteria. “It wasn’t easy; the lights never went off.”
At age 66, the obvious question, though, is when will she call it quits? “I don’t really have any hobbies,” MacDonald said, “so I’m not sure what I’d do with my time if I wasn’t here.”
Married with children and grandchildren, MacDonald said she doesn’t get to see the young ones as much as she’d like; so that could be a retirement pursuit. She also loves the beach on her days off.
“But, for now I think I’ll keep working,” she said. “At least for another couple more years. I like it, serving the staff, the visitors. I just like being here.”
