Storyteller of St. Kate’s: Eddie Ivanic
Ivanic was nominated for the THX For Making My Day Award in November. Credit: @stkatesdining on Instagram
A look into one of St. Kate’s favorite people on campus
By M Yeager
Eddie Ivanic is one of the many mainstays of St. Kate’s, especially in the dining hall, the marketplace, The Pulse and the coffee shop. Ivanic has been at St. Kate’s for 42 years and has seen the university change and evolve over those decades. From St. Joseph’s Hall becoming the Coeur de Catherine (CdC) to the several changes of hands between food vendors for the college and later university, Ivanic has witnessed it all. Read the Q&A below to learn more about Ivanic and his time here!
What brought you to St. Kate’s?
My mom told me about it. Back in 1981, I applied for a security job here but I didn’t get the job. My interview [for dining services] was on Feb. 12, 1982, and I got hired on Feb. 15. That’s when I started.
Did you always want to end up in food service?
When I was a kid, I wanted to be a police officer, but I didn’t think that I could make it.
Tell me about your time here at St. Kate’s.
This used to be St. Joseph’s Hall back when I first started. In 2004, it changed. On the first floor, we had a guest dining room, the main dining room, the Sisters’ dining room and kitchen. They had their own bathroom and our bathroom was all the way on the other end. We had a big kitchen and a big storeroom. The storeroom shrunk since 2004. Everything’s changed. The old dish room used to be right about here [in The Pulse]. We had a conveyor belt that just went through, where you could put the dishes right on the machine instead of those racks.
I had my best year in 1987. I got a letter saying thank you. I think that was for [helping out at] the Feast of St. Joseph. I got in the newspaper for that one. They hung it up in the kitchen for about five months. I have a copy at home too.
What positions have you had?
I became a dishwasher first. I got so fast, they kicked me out of the dish room. Then I became a catering and stock person, my second title. Then, I was the lead person and closer at the Minneapolis campus. I ordered things like pop and did the bakery order. Augsburg was running it at the time. Then Sodexo took over. Then, over here [St. Paul campus] we opened. I had to write down the bakery order and we had to bring the hot food over, all that stuff. We worked 10 a.m.-6 p.m. the first few days. Then after my coworker got in an accident, I had to work three days in a row by myself. I had to get bakery all wrapped up, I made the punches and the coffee, and deliver. I know each building around here. I had to get directions when I first started. I took things to the Speech Building, Recital Hall, O’Shaughnessy, Mendel Hall. … I had about six 8 a.m. coffee deliveries. I had to be here at 5am to make coffee.
Mike Settle and Ivanic ran the Minneapolis campus that closed in 2018. On the last day, there were frisbees with pictures of Ivanic and Settle on them wearing shirts with “I’m spicy” and “I’m zesty,” respectively, handed out. Credit: M Yeager
I miss Minneapolis, where I ran the place. After they closed the food service in Minneapolis, I came back here and learned the tricks. I became a floater and then became a supervisor.
What companies were here running food service?
Aramark was here when I first started. I worked with them for a six-month temp period, and then the college took over. They ran it for 16 years. Then Bon Appétit for one year. Sodexo’s been here for close to 24 years now.
What are some things that you do outside of work?
I write poetry, I do sketches, I tried to play the guitar. When I was younger, I used to walk people home in the dark so they wouldn’t be afraid. I like to dance and play other games, like cribbage.
You play cribbage with your aunt, right?
Yes, once a week I go over to Carondelet Village. I have lunch with her and play cribbage.
What are some of the things that you have enjoyed the most over your 42 years of working at St. Kate’s?
My favorite thing is the students.
I’ve talked to a lot of students and many of them have said that you are their favorite across campus.
Across campus? Wow.
Students can often find Ivanic in the dining hall or The Pulse floating around and checking in on how things are going in each of these areas. Feel free to say hello and ask him about how St. Kate’s looked in the past. In addition, don’t forget to wish him a happy work anniversary on Thursday, Feb. 15!
