Alexis, Who Made the Coop Smile Ah Sugar, Sugar, Salt and Fat
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13-03-07 p1-16_Layout 1 3/6/13 5:03 PM Page 1 OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE PARK SLOPE FOOD COOP Established 1973 Volume HH, Number 5 March 7, 2013 Alexis, Who Made the Coop Smile Ah Sugar, Sugar, Salt and Fat By Thomas Matthews attended Seward Park High School, but left By Danielle Uchitelle illy Donald Alexis was an unflagging and early to enroll in the college bound program at n his new book, Salt Sugar Birrepressible presence at the Coop, where New York City Community College at the age IFat, Coop member Michael he worked for 19 years as a Receiving Coordi- of 16. There he earned both his high school Moss peers under the hood nator. He made a broad impact on the Coop’s diploma and associate’s degree. He earned his of the global processed food 16,000 members in his role as the bread bachelor’s degree from Baruch College. machine and shines a light buyer, expanding the range of products to In 1988, he married Shelia Martin. They on the massive, well-tuned include a wide diversity of specialty and arti- moved to Brooklyn and had three children: engine built to suck the gro- san-baked goods. But his most personal lega- Stephen (born in 1990), Darian (1992) and Jor- cery dollars from our pock- cy was as the early morning monitor, where dan (1997). ets and leave us gasping, he greeted, organized and encouraged the “I can’t remember how I was introduced to malnourished and ill. Subti- sleepy staff and member workers who assem- the Coop, but I joined first,” Shelia said. “And tled “How the Food Giants bled each day by 6:00 a.m. to bring the store I worked both his shift and my shift! Then I Hooked Us,” his book to life. saw that there was an opening for a Receiv- describes the many tech- ing Coordinator and told him he should niques they use, generally apply to it.” with the full cooperation of the government, to make Alexis Grew with the Coop sure we keep buying and “Alexis truly grew with the Coop,” said Joe eating more and more of Holtz, one of the General Coordinators. “We their products. had less than 5,000 members when he joined If this sounds like someone else’s dystopia, you’re a more dis- the staff in August, 1993. He was not the bread ciplined shopper than I am. When reading in Michaels’s book buyer immediately. He was not the main early about how the government encourages low commodity prices morning point person immediately. As the for sugar, aiding the food giants and abetting the obesity crisis, I Coop grew and the staff grew, the areas of spe- can work up a good head of righteous indignation on behalf the cialization grew more numerous and more economy’s underclass, to whom sugary prepared foods are often focused. Alexis proved to be excellent at help- targeted, while nursing that “told you so” state of mind toward ing to orchestrate the start of weekdays, which my sugar-gobbling friends. You see, my own personal added- start much earlier than the shopping hours.” sugar consumption is as close to zero as any Westerner is likely “He was brilliant at his job as the morning to get: I eat one piece of pineapple upside-down cake on the monitor,” said Jennie KixMiller, a longtime Fourth of July, and cake on my birthday. Don’t gaze directly at my member of the Coop and former Coordinator halo; it may harm your eyes. On the other hand, my mother was who worked with Alexis directly for eight years. from New Orleans and I cook the way she taught me, with lots “And it’s one of the most important jobs at the and lots of salt and plenty of fat to fry in. In my family you don’t Coop. His warmth and personality made him taste food to see how much salt to add; you keep adding salt perfect for the job. He knew exactly who to until you can smell it, and then you back off a bit. So the chap- match up with which task. He was one of the ters on salt and fat left me more than a little queasy. The truth is, warmest, most loving people I know. He had the CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 biggest smile! And a big hug for everyone.” Denney Marcelle, a Receiving Coordinator, Next General Meeting on March 19* was a friend outside of work as well. “Alexis The General Meeting of the Park Slope Food Coop is held on the loved weight training,” he said. “He was not into last Tuesday of each month.* The March General Meeting will “It was his home,” said his wife Shelia Mar- bulking up, but he was extremely fit. And hand- be on Tuesday, March 19, at 7:00 p.m. at MS 51, 350 Fifth Ave., tin. “It really was. The people: that was the some! My goodness, some of the members had between Fourth and Fifth Sts. Enter on Fourth St. cul-de-sac. thing.” a drooling problem.” Denney also recalled The Fourth St. entrance is handicap-accessible. Billy Donald Alexis was born on Oct. 31, doughnut runs before work, and tales of rau- The agenda is in this Gazette, on the Coop website at 1954, the youngest child of Dorothy and cous card games, big parties and delicious www.foodcoop.com and available as a flier in the entryway of Joseph Alexis. The family grew up in the Lillian meals at the Alexis-Martin household. the Coop. For more information about the GM and about Coop Wald Houses on the Lower East Side. Alexis CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 governance, please see the center of this issue. *March’s meeting is March 19 (not March 26). This is an Thu, Mar 7 • Food Class: Super Fresh Spring Cleaning exception. with Raw Foods 7:30 p.m. IN THIS ISSUE Fri, Mar 8 • Wordsprouts: Group Reading: Coop Stories from the City & Beyond 7:00 p.m. From the Archives . 3 Tue, Mar 12 • Safe Food Committee Film Night: Rooftop Farms Grow in Brooklyn. 4 Event The World According to Monsanto 7:00 p.m. Plow-to-Plate Movie Series . 6 Coop Calendar, Governance Information, Mission Statement. 9 Highlights Thu, Apr 4 • Food Class: Cherry Blossom–Inspired Dishes Calendar of Events . 10 7:30 p.m. Letters to the Editor . 12 Look for additional information about these and other events in this issue. Candidates for Board of Directors . 14 Classifieds, Exciting Workslot Opportunities. 15 13-03-07 p1-16_Layout 1 3/6/13 5:03 PM Page 2 2 March 7, 2013 Park Slope Food Coop, Brooklyn, NY Alexis ticularly cared for. It was four appear to have ingrained the twitter posts from CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 or five days a week, some- value of determination in coop members who knew times two shifts a day. It was their family. When their and loved Alexis An Ability To Touch grueling. But he found his daughter Darian was about to Other People groove in it and it became enter her first year at college, Marcelle articulated some- who he was. He took his job she suffered severe burns in @fmb_3: “Somber day, Alexis brother, you will be missed.” thing about Alexis that every- to heart and was a perfection- an accident at the end of Barbara Mazor: “I am deeply saddened to learn Alexis has one who knew him touched on: ist. Doing something he ini- August. She chose not to passed away. May his memory be for a blessing.” his growth as a person and his tially didn’t want to do gave delay her college education ability to touch other people. him a chance to show off his and is on track to graduate Roberta Arnold @RonnieCuberMGMT: “very nice person “The Coop gives everyone peacock feathers. He had to next year. When she got a job to work with. always had a smile even at 7 a.m. on a who works here the challenge engage and nurture so many in the People’s Market Food Sunday morning.” to be outgoing, organized, people. And that’s why peo- Coop at the University of and to manage people, some ple remember him the way Massachusetts in Amherst, gilly youner @gillyarcht: I am bereft. The @foodcoop is of whom are much more they do. Alexis was excited to report bereft. We have lost Alexis…one of the SWEETEST humans how much she loved working on the planet. Ever. :-…. there and now how much she Elfrida Martin @Elfiem: Alexis has inspired great love and now appreciated his work at the Park Slope Food Coop.” respect. What a beautiful smile Joshua Bauchner @bauchner: RIP Alexis. What a guy A Generosity of Spirit General Coordinator Allen Ainslie Binder @ainslieann: He made my 5:45 shifts worth- Zimmerman is a cancer sur- while. RIP Alexis vivor who got to know anoth- Annie Petunia @PicklePetunia: so sad to hear about Alexis. er side of Alexis. “Last year, He was the sunshine of my morning shift. Always a smile when I was recovering from surgery and Alexis was recov- and a warm hello. RIP Alexis. ering from the treatment for Matthew Wills @backyardbeyond: Really sorry to hear about his cancer, we found our- Alexis. He was a great guy. selves on medical leave at the same time. We spent time sarah hill @sarahjoyhill: An early morning weekday worker together that was very differ- remembering Alexis with great affection & respect.