Photo courtesy of Dining Services
Mike McGinnis worked at the College for 20 years. The community remembered him with quotes, photos and personal items in the entryway to the Dining Commons.
BY GILLIAN PETRARCA ’23
On Jan. 15, the Mount Holyoke College community lost beloved staff member Michael McGinnis. McGinnis worked in Dining Services for 20 years and will be missed by many students, staff and alums.
“Mike was an incredible human being inside and out. He had a huge heart and was always willing to help anyone,” Director of Dining Services Richard Perna said. “For 20 years at Mount Holyoke Dining Services, he smiled from the moment he walked into work to the moment he left. I honestly don’t think Mike ever had a bad day.”
Over his 20 years at the College, McGinnis worked closely with students, many of whom remembered him beyond their years at Mount Holyoke.
“If it wasn’t for Mike, I wouldn’t have made it through my toughest times as a student at Mount Holyoke,” Casey Martin ’04 said. “He always had a smile and a genuine word of encouragement timed so perfectly. My visits back to South Hadley always entailed a special stop to see him in the kitchen.”
“My gratitude remains for having had the privilege of working with him,” Martin said.
While working in the Dining Commons, McGinnis was known to always have his coworkers’ backs.
“When I first started working in the dining hall, I was really nervous because everything was so fast-paced. Mike noticed this and he pulled me aside and comforted me,” Luci Marshall ’23 said. “After that, every time he saw me he would wave at me and ask how his ‘favorite student worker’ was doing.”
“Mike was very quiet, however working with him was amazing,” Student Dining Manager Madison Gale ’20 said. “I would call him Big Mike and he would call me Little M. He was very wise, it was almost as if he was the dad of the dining hall.”
Many who saw McGinnis in the dining hall were often struck by his cheerful personality.
“Mike brought joy and laughter to many faculty, staff and students on campus,” Shannon Gurek, vice president for finance and administration, said in a Jan. 17 email to the College community.
In the weeks following McGinnis’ passing, Dining Services set up a temporary tribute to his life in the entryway of the Dining Commons. Across several tables stood three trifold poster boards, where passersby were encouraged to write messages and share their memories of McGinnis. Surrounding the posters were framed photographs of McGinnis at work, flowers and his uniform, lovingly folded.
“Thank you for your kindness. You always knew how to make me smile — and laugh,” one message read.
“Rest in peace, my brother,” read another; a third, “Going to miss you making faces at me and giving the best advice.”
“You made every day better. It was an honor and a privilege,” wrote one mourner.
McGinnis’ reliable presence, kindness and good humor will be missed on campus. “We are all heartbroken to not have him here with us today,” Perna said.