Waiters and waitresses are part of most of our lives. They have an uncanny ability to put us in a bad mood — or make us feel good about ourselves and the featured lunchtime special. Such power.
This column is a tip of the hat to server Jenn Dean, and those like her, who put smiles on our faces with their sweet dispositions.
June and Richard Cunningham of West Akron drive 35 miles round trip a couple of times a week to Medina’s Yours Truly Restaurant for the pleasure of Jenn’s company. To watch her in action, I visited the restaurant on a recent morning.
I didn’t introduce myself. A half-hour later, Beacon Journal photographer Karen Schiely walked in with a camera big and impressive enough to catch the eye of a novice photographer like Jenn.
Prior to being outed, I watched as Jenn greeted each customer like a long-lost buddy. When prompted, she talked about attending the recent funeral for Richard “Dick” DeVoe Matthews, a customer she befriended, taking him to visit his wife in a nursing home after he turned over his car keys to the kids.
“The way she is with the elderly is so sweet,” said June. “I get great joy just watching her.”
When Jenn’s grandmother was living, it was tradition for her family to spend one night a week, “Granny Night,” with the elderly woman. It was a cherished time for all.
As a volunteer at the Medina Raptor Center, Jenn has instilled the love of nature in her sons, Travis, 8, and Raymond, 12.
While exploring outdoors, Travis likes to stuff his pockets with things like frogs and snakes. When he was younger, he would beg to bring the creepy-crawly things inside and keep them as pets.
Jenn often tells customers that she simply explained to Travis that if he kept them, the animals would miss out on their Granny Night, adding that it was important to leave the bugs and reptiles in their natural habitats. The boy would relent, placing the would-be pet back on the ground.
The diners ate up the story.
“It’s not about the food she serves. It’s about what she serves us as a human being,” said June. “When she goes home at night and puts her head on the pillow and reflects on her day, I hope she knows she has done a ministry.”
Arno Kremer, general manager of the restaurant, said Jenn demonstrates a genuine passion for those she serves.
“To know her is to say that she has the biggest heart of anyone that you would know,” he said. “She is often thought of as an extended family member of our regular guests.”
When Jenn brought the Cunninghams’ breakfast, Schiely lifted her camera, and I confessed that we were at the restaurant to do a story about her service to customers. Instantly, the 40-year-old broke out in tears.
“I love the interaction with people and the relationships I have with all of the people who come in here,” Jenn said. “I love my job.”
Do you have a favorite server?
I know many of you have stories about special local waiters or waitresses, but I kindly ask that you not call as I’m unable to write about them all. Instead, please go to my Facebook page (at the link below) and look for the post about favorite servers. Add your comment, telling us what makes him or her so terrific.
Kim Hone-McMahan can be reached at 330-996-3742 or kmcmahan@thebeaconjournal.com. Find her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kim.honemcmahan.