Don Jacobs and the Penn Dining Family

https://www.meyersfh.com/obituaries/Donald-M-Jacobs?obId=25258586  Sadly, what I have just posted tonight is the obituary for Donald M Jacobs.  Don was a very important figure in my life, early in my career at Penn Dining.  Don made us all feel, in Hospitality Services, as if we were part of a big family, his family.  So, on the 182nd day of 2022 my two for 2022 are Don Jacobs and the Penn Dining Family.  It's amazing, as we sit here on 7/1/2022, it has been over twenty two years since I worked for Penn Dining, Hospitality Services, Campus Dining, Campus Services, Business Services... it does not matter what we were called, we were all working together to bring the best food, the best events, the best SERVICES to the Penn Campus.  And, even though these are folks I have not worked with for over two decades, I still send them holiday cards, see them at picnics and BBQs, revel in the news of their kids' graduations and weddings, and babies, and and and.  Texts and FB posts and messages and lunches..... all just like we had worked with each other just yesterday, not back in the 20th Century.  And while we forged these connections together, it was all fostered by the overall culture set by Don.  A culture of family.  Just as families do, we disagreed and fought sometimes.  But, when it came down to it, we banded together for Alumni Weekend, the NSO Freshman BBQ (remember the Granville Chicken grills??), Special Dinners, Penn's 250th, the Hey Day Picnic, random other catering events, the Constitutional Celebration at the Civic Center (along with Pat Benatar), Commencement, and much, much more.  I am indebted to Don for infusing me with a love for Penn and the mindset that our students, staff, and faculty customers are what matters.  And I have taken that mindset to EVERY job I have had at the University.  July 1st is a New Year.  A New Fiscal Year, a New President has started at Penn.  And, it also marks a loss for me of a mentor, a friend, and one of the foundational bosses I have ever had.  Thank you Don, Rest in Peace, I know you are arranging special dinners in Heaven.