St. Mary’s catering coordinator is going above and beyond for clients, colleagues and patients
By Samantha Bambino
The Times
Sandy Brugger doesn’t care about the compliments or recognition.
Even when her manager referred to her as a “beloved fixture” in the workplace, she exuded an air of humbleness, emitting a brief chuckle while slightly blushing. But when you’ve been doing what you love for more than 27 years, going above and beyond is a natural instinct rather than a chore, something colleagues and clients easily take notice of.
Though she’s not necessarily saving lives, Brugger is positively impacting them on a daily basis in her role as catering coordinator at St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne. On a recent Tuesday afternoon in the heart of the hospital’s lunchtime, The Times caught up with this Levittown mom to see firsthand how she incorporates her two passions — people and food — into her day-to-day work.
Brugger got her start at St. Mary in October 1990, when she spent time learning the ins and outs of food service as a dietary aide and dietary clerk. In the latter role, she modified menus and kept track of patients’ dietary needs. Though the work was enjoyable, she felt called to do something more hands on, preferably in the kitchen. So when the catering coordinator opportunity became available, she jumped at the chance.
Now, Brugger is St. Mary’s “go-to” lady for all things food, especially when it comes to events. Whether it’s a large-scale Hospital Week celebration or an intimate ice cream social, Brugger is the one working tirelessly behind-the-scenes to ensure each occasion runs smoothly, ordering menu items, decorations, tables and anything else the client may require.
For the most part, Brugger is on hand during each event to tackle any last-minute issues and make sure each guest is cared for. Reflecting on a recent catered meeting, she explained how one attendee asked for a ginger ale and cheeseburger, neither of which were on the menu. Still, his wish was Brugger’s command, and she appeared moments later bearing both items.
“I’m not going to say ‘no,’” she said. “I’ll do whatever I can to make the event happen and satisfy their needs.”
Though Brugger’s schedule can get hectic and include some unusual hours, for example when breakfast is needed at a 2 a.m. town hall meeting, she loves the spontaneity of the job and the fact that no two days are ever the same. She also gets to play something of a food scientist, tweaking breads and garnishes here and there to avoid the dreaded “ugh, this again?” at monthly meetings and other recurring events.
“I get excited about new ideas,” she said, laughing about how she attends cocktail parties for the sole purpose of examining the host’s setup.
It’s clear Brugger’s research has paid off. In her natural habitat of the St. Mary kitchen, The Times had the pleasure of seeing her in action as she assembled an exquisite tray of sugar, coffee and snacks in under 30 seconds.
When Brugger isn’t at an event, she’s hard at work in her downstairs office, placing orders and planning ahead through the online system Catertrax, which she said is a significant step up from the tedious paper trail used when she first came on board. Still, her workspace isn’t completely digitized yet, with a manilla folder filled to bursting carefully tucked away in a corner.
Each page stacked inside is a “thank you” letter from a satisfied client, praising Brugger and her team for their exceptional work. To be clear, the collection is far from a bragging statement. On those hard and stressful days, it serves as a reminder why she entered the food service industry in the first place — food makes people happy and if they’re happy, she’s happy.
In Brugger’s world, spare time is rare. But when she does find herself with a few hours to fill, kicking back is the last thing on her mind.
“I’m not one to sit around and stare. I’m always finding something to do,” she said.
Whenever she can, Brugger assists in the kitchen where help is needed, organizing trays and delivering food to patients throughout the hospital. She’s also always willing to lend a hand even when the situation is far from being food-related, whether it’s walking a lost patient to their appointment or informing the cleaning staff about a wet floor.
For Brugger, there’s never a second thought about performing these little acts of kindness. It’s this mindset that has earned her a special camaraderie with the rest of the hospital’s staff, especially the food services team, who tease and crack jokes with Brugger as if they’re longtime friends.
“We pick up for each other,” she said. “St. Mary is my family.”
As if Brugger didn’t already wear enough hats, she’s now testing the title of “actress” as one of several employees featured in an upcoming St. Mary television commercial series, which will air this summer. ••
Samantha Bambino can be reached at [email protected]
