Fortunately, I had the particular pleasure of “graduating” from a regular food-worker position at Commons to that of being a bakery worker under Master Baker Jay Truitt, a University legend who retired after decades of devoted service while I worked the shop. Jay was 110 lean pounds of fun-loving sinew who could throw around those 50-pound bags of flour like they were rose petals.
I am not sure that Jay and his bakeshop ever received the recognition they deserved, but that shop worked six days a week producing all of the freshly baked goods (from breads and rolls to pies and pastries) served at the Commons. Wednesday was doughnut day. That was always a popular day for drop-in visitors! The nourishing smell of the wheat, the warmth of the ovens, the sight of the fresh loaves: Negative thoughts would immediately dissolve on contact with the place. A body couldn’t come down and enter that bakeshop without boosting one’s outlook.
It was an operation that brought intangible benefit and subtle but significant joy to students, faculty, and employees alike through its tireless professional output. I am reminded that there are many unsung heroes at Princeton, past and present, contributing in immeasurable and thankless ways to its continuing story. My hat is off to them all.