McMaster employees honoured for years of service

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/YearsofService08.jpg” caption=”President Peter George and the 40-year recipients at the Years of Service luncheon. (Standing left to right: Edward Allaby, Vincent Condon, Greta Hardy, President Peter George. Seated left to right: Susan Hockridge, Mary Margaret Strong, Stella Lucarelli) Photo by Ron Scheffler. “]On Wednesday, President Peter George hosted a luncheon honouring long-time McMaster employees for their commitment to the University. 204 employees attended the Years of Service luncheon to celebrate their dedicated service. Of those attending, six employees have worked at McMaster for 40 years.

Three of the 40-year veterans work for Titles, McMaster University Bookstore.

Edward Allaby and Susan Hockridge, both textbook buyers, have worked at the bookstore for their entire careers. They pioneered the selling of used textbooks in Canada in order to save students money.

Allaby attributes the friendly atmosphere of the bookstore as their reason for staying so long.

“The people in the bookstore are like family. We get together outside the store for social events and past student workers always come back to visit us,” agreed Hockridge.

“I'm going to miss socializing with my colleagues when I retire – I may have to come back and work part time to keep talking to these people.”

The third Titles employee, Vince Condon is a supervisor in the post office.

“I work at Titles because of the people– they've always been good to me.”

Another long-time employee, Mary Margaret Strong, administrative assistant in the Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, started a year after the department opened.

“Working in the same department has allowed me to see the University progress over the years,” said Strong.

Greta Hardy, assistant to the president and Stella Lucarelli from hospitality services, also received recognition for 40 years of service at McMaster.

Thirty-nine employees worked at McMaster for 15 years, 102 worked for 20 years, 33 worked for 30 years, 20 worked for 35 years and six worked at McMaster for 40 years.