Remembering Anna Pump of Loaves & Fishes
(In October 2015, we reflected on the life and legacy of Anna Pump. Enjoy our remembrance here).
Anna Pump is the reason At Your Service Staffing exists in the hospitality industry. Moreover, she is the reason how we exist in the hospitality industry today. "Attitude is Everything" was born on the back of Anna Pump, Loaves & Fishes and the chance she and her team gave us.
In 1985, when we were the new kids on the block in Hamptons hospitality, Anna Pump and her daughter Sybille, gave our team the chance to serve alongside her and the Loaves & Fishes family. Through this opportunity, she taught our team so much about what it means to be hospitable.
It was through sending staff to her that we learned as a company that everyone is there to serve the client – there are no bartenders only, there are no waiters only – there are only hospitality professionals, standing at the ready to make the client’s party a success.
In one word, I would say she taught us standards. Anna could often be found at her gourmet shop herself, sending staff to her own herb garden to select the evening’s feature at the party. She would, herself, ready staff for the evening’s event. Anna had standards and made sure everyone that was with her that night was adhering to them. She made a note of whose smile stood out. She pointed out who had a uniform needing more of a press of the iron. Her passion for our industry was apparent in everything she did and it is with her standards that we continue to build our own team today.
As our very first client, Anna gave us a chance when no one else would. Once Anna gave us her okay, we were in. We will never forget that and we will never forget her. We are who we are because of Anna Pump. She will be both missed and remembered.
Anna Pump, who was nationally known for her “Loaves and Fishes Cookbook” as well as her Hampton’s gourmet food shop of the same name, was remembered one week ago after being struck by a truck on Montauk Highway in Bridgehampton. She was 81.