Alumni Bulletin - Fall 2008 - (Page 28)

up close and personal When Elaine Brophy, the catering director for Lehigh University, learned more than a year ago that the Dalai Lama was coming, it took her a millisecond to decide that Martha Reber would serve the Nobel Peace Prize winner all of his meals. “I knew that Martha was the right person right away,” says Brophy. “She’s so professional, so calm, and everyone just loves her.” Add the Dalai Lama to Martha Reber’s list of admirers—and vice versa. “At one point during his visit, His Holiness said that Martha reminded him of his mother,” recalls Brophy with a smile. “Some people thought it was because she is around the same height and has dark hair, like his mother did.” Reber has a different theory. “I reminded him of his mom because I was serving him food that he liked and because I was taking good care of him,” Reber quips. “But seriously, it was a once-ina-lifetime experience to meet the Dalai Lama. The thing that I’ll never forget about the Dalai Lama is his chuckle. He was always laughing, always made you feel comfortable to be in his presence, and always appreciative of anything that you did for him.” For the majority of his historic visit to Stabler Arena, Brophy and Reber, along with John DePinto, regional executive catering chef, and Timothy Leger, exective chef, worked in a makeshift staging area—in the women’s basketball locker room—to prepare lunch for His Holiness and his small entourage. The lunch menu each day would include three soups, a salad, three different entrees (ranging from spaghetti bolognese to salmon to lamb curry to fish and chips), and a dessert option. The Dalai Lama would always drink hot water or room-temperature bottled water. “He always appeared to enjoy what we served him,” says Brophy, who left for Emory University in September. “And he was always so grateful. We got to see a different side of him while he was here, not the teaching side. Instead, we saw his kind, human side—and up close at that.” The Dalai Lama showed his gratitude by posing for pictures with Reber and Brophy—and later with the whole dining services group. The Dalai Lama squeezed Reber’s hand and smiled at her before the group photograph was snapped. He also presented Reber, Brophy, and the two Lehigh chefs with blessed khatas as well as an autographed pamphlet explaining his beliefs and told the quartet that he’d never forget them. “This is the coolest thing that I’ve ever worked on while at Lehigh,” Reber says. “I’m going to frame the khata—along with the autograph and the individual photograph that he took with me. It’s something that I can give to my grandkids someday, if I ever have them.” —Bill Doherty PHoTo By DoUgLAS BENEDIcT 28 LEHIGH ALUMNI BULLETIN Elaine Brophy and Martha Reber

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Alumni Bulletin - Fall 2008

Alumni Bulletin - Fall 2008 Contents From the President's Desk Mailbox On Campus Research Arts & Culture Sports Cover Story: The Dalai Lama at Lehigh Heart of a Champion Around the World in 80 Years Fighting for Children wth Autism Keepers of the Flame From the Publisher's Desk Alumni News The Last Word

Alumni Bulletin - Fall 2008

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