I’ve been a student at CNU for less than a year. Although I haven’t been a member of the CNU community for very long, I’m quickly learning that there are hundreds of little reasons why Christopher Newport is such an amazing place. One of those reasons is a man named Greg who works in Regatta’s.
Maybe you don’t know him by name, but I guarantee that at least a few times, as you’ve entered Regatta’s and had your card swiped, you’ve received a smile and a “You have a wonderful day, baby girl,” or “Enjoy your meal, young man,” from Mr. Greg. His joyful, cheery attitude brightens the lives of students daily, which has caused him to become somewhat of an icon around campus. However, many students know nothing more about him than the fact that his name is Greg. In order to rectify this, I had the privilege of interviewing Mr. Greg so that he could have the opportunity to share a bit more himself with the students he treats like family.
Where are you from?
“I’m originally from New York. Brooklyn, New York.”
When did you come down to Virginia?
“I came down to Virginia in 2006, and I came to CNU about eight years ago.”
Why did you choose to come to Christopher Newport University?
“Well, a friend of mine used to be involved with InterVarsity, and he was good friends with President Trible and Vice President Bill Brauer. He used to come downtown on the Christian outreach, and we got to talking one day and he asked me if I wanted a job because I had just lost my momma; my mom died of cancer. I said ‘Sure,’ he set up an interview with the vice president, and a week later I was hired here.”
Can you describe a typical day at work?
“On a typical day, I get up in the morning, shower, thank the Lord for waking me up another day, on my way to work I talk to Him, and then I get here and do what I have to do. My shift usually starts at 10:30, but I usually get here by about 9:05. I come in and start trying to get stuff done. I’m not supposed to work when I’m not on the clock, but I still do it anyway [laughs] because I like for stuff to be done. I like, when we open up, for us to be ready to receive our students so they can get what they need, you know? I don’t ask to be paid for it. That’s just what I do. My pet peeve is that I don’t like laziness. I’m not going to stand there and see something that needs to be done and just walk by it. That just makes my skin crawl. I have to do it! [laughing] But that’s my typical day: getting everything done. I work from 10 in the morning to 9 at night during the week and on Saturdays I work from 9:30 to 9. I like to be here.”
So, you really like this environment and being surrounded by college students.
“Yeah! I like it. The kids show me so much love. I went through something a few years ago; I was feeling really down. The students picked me up. I went through a really bad situation, but they lifted me up. I love it here.”
As you probably know, you’re kind of known around campus as the guy who smiles at everybody and is constantly in a good mood. How do you always keep a positive attitude?
“[laughs] I’m thankful that I have my health, my daughters are healthy, and I’m peaceful. I’m happy here. Students here are nice, you know, they’re well-mannered. I’m just altogether happy that God is looking over me… My Lord Jesus Christ is looking over me. It keeps a smile on my face.”
What do you consider your most significant accomplishment?
“My biggest accomplishment? Raising two beautiful daughters that graduated from college. They graduated from NYU. I worked there for 20 years. I left there and I came down here with my mom, when I found out my mom had cancer.”
What do you consider to be your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
“My greatest strength is stepping up. When something has to be done, I step up and do it. I like to take charge. I don’t like to stand around, like I said before. My greatest weakness is my daughters. My ex-wife tells me all the time that they think the world revolves around them. Then I say that I’m their father! They’re supposed to! [laughs]”
Last question – what piece of advice would you give to every student on campus?
“Go to school. Study hard. Be respectful to each other. Be outstanding, and be awesome to one another. And always show, when you go out into the world, that you came here to CNU, and you got a good education. You must show the world what true excellence is. These students, I believe, are true excellence.”
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