Coffee group thanks Ruby's Restaurant owner Jo Olson for more than 30 years of hospitality

Ruby's Restaurant, owned by Jo Olson, has been a Decorah tradition for over 50 years.  Every Thursday morning for the past thirty-some years, a group of retired faculty members from Luther College has gathered for breakfast and conversation.  The participants varied as new people hit retirement age—in recent years the number of women has increased slightly—all ranging in age from 65 to 95. Former English Professor Harland Nelson calls it "the old geezer breakfast"; former Communication Studies Professor Alan Lerstrom notes that when he first started coming to the breakfast, Jo told him he looked too young to belong.

Because the coronavirus pandemic closed restaurants and many other stores completely this spring, these last months have been difficult for many local businesses. So this group of old-timers who had been regulars at Ruby's, but were now unable to gather, decided to help out their favorite owner-waitress, Jo Olson, by co-writing a letter of appreciation and giving her a gift of $1,100.

The group's letter to Olson spells out what her hospitality, friendship, and personalized care have meant for all these years.  Former English professor Carol Gilbertson thanked Jo for "joking, teasing, and wise-cracking with the best of us." Former English professor Mark Muggli praised Olson for her "spirited presence and service" and the way she nurtured camaraderie.

The group's letter ended with a short poem written by former Biology Professor Phil Reitan: "We gathered each Thursday at Ruby's. / All old retirees, rarely any Newbys. / We all loved Jo and would want no other, / Because for all of us she was what we needed, a no-nonsense Mother."