This summer, St. Kate's dining staff visited Willie Williams at his care facility during his recovery from a stroke. Photo courtesy of St. Kate's dining services.
Willie Williams has been a fixture at the ŃÇÉ«Ó°żâ cafeteria register since he began working in campus dining services in 1989. For over 30 years, he has formed meaningful connections with St. Kate’s students, staff, faculty, and campus visitors, a tenure he describes as “so automatic and natural to me, something I never really thought about,” he says.
Williams has long been a beloved community member, handling busy lunch crowds with a friendly smile and speedy register-ringing.
“Willie’s always had an exceptional warmth about him that made everyone feel at ease and comfortable,” says Francis Fagerlund ’24, who worked in the dining hall as a first-year student employee.
But for the past year, St. Kate’s students and community members have missed Williams’ bright hellos. In March of 2023, Williams experienced a severe stroke that impaired his speech and motion abilities, rendering him unable to perform the same daily tasks. Fortunately, his memory was not impacted.
As Williams began his journey to recovery, the dining team put together a station where the St. Kate’s community could write encouraging notes to him. The card was quickly filled with dozens of heartfelt messages to Williams, whose friendly daily presence has been missed during his absence, particularly by his coworkers.
“Some members of our team have been able to visit Willie at his care facility,” says Alexis Everson ’20, dining services marketing manager and student employment coordinator. “It was so good to catch up and see his smile again as he continues on his way to recovery!”
By May, he regained his ability to walk, and has continued to improve rapidly over the past year, as he relearned how to talk, eat, and walk. He recently transitioned into an assisted living facility with more intense therapy to regain further motions and actions.
“I’m lucky,” emphasizes Williams. “I can move and everything — a lot of people that have a stroke, they can’t move their arms, they can't move their legs. I was lucky.”
Though he continues to focus on his recovery, February 20, Williams visited St. Kate’s dining hall for his 35-year anniversary with coworkers, students, and other friends who were thrilled to celebrate how far he has come since his stroke last year.
Congratulations to Willie on his years of service and his remarkable progress in recovery!
Williams at left in 2009 and at right in 2023.
2009 photo courtesy of The Wheel.