Meet me at Mr. Z's

To his friends, Monroe Zeffert's catering career was a perfect reflection of his character—just like a good meal, he brought people together. So when he shared his cancer diagnosis a few years ago, a small group of his close college friends rallied around him, reconnecting over Zoom calls, Orioles and Nationals baseball games, and a shared sense of urgency. The group, composed mostly of Hopkins Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity brothers and spanning multiple class years, call themselves the Friends of Monroe.

"Monroe arrived on campus in 1975 as a Baltimore 'commuter' student and was instantly a class leader and universally known as the most generous and friendliest person in our class," Eric Schwartz, A&S '79, says of his friend. "There wasn't a soul in the school who didn't like and appreciate Monroe."

Zeffert graduated from Johns Hopkins in 1979. Ever the hands-on worker, he went on to found one of Baltimore's best-known catering companies, Zeffert and Gold. He relished being part of people's happiest moments and could often be found under the big white tent on Decker Quad, serving crab cakes during Johns Hopkins Alumni Weekend.

"When Monroe got sick, we thought, 'None of us are promised tomorrow, and now it's time to devote a little more energy to our friendship,'" explains Phil Kiester, A&S '79. Kiester was roommates with Zeffert and also worked in the hospitality industry after graduation. "Not only did it rekindle some friendships, but it created some stronger friendships. The Friends of Monroe will live on."

Last year, Zeffert told the group his cancer treatments were no longer working. While he was at peace, Zeffert had one final goal: to make it to his 45th class reunion. Not only did Zeffert make it back to Homewood, he served on the 45th reunion committee, just as he had for every previous milestone reunion.

Inspired by Zeffert's commitment to volunteer leadership and fundraising, the Friends of Monroe turned their attention to a new goal: honoring their friend and the enduring friendships he nurtured at Hopkins. While the group initially considered endowing a scholarship, they ultimately agreed on a more fitting tribute—named spaces in the Hopkins Student Center, which is scheduled to open in 2025.

"We used to joke that, instead of pre-med or pre-law, Monroe was pre-deli. He worked at delicatessens throughout his life," Ross Heisman, A&S '79, says. Zeffert and Heisman served as the Class of 1979 president and vice president, respectively. "He never put any distance between himself and Johns Hopkins. It was such a natural fit to look at the student center and choose spaces to name in his honor."

"Monroe, by his example, showed us how to face the reality of our own mortality with dignity, equanimity, and without regret," Kiester says. "We got to do this with Monroe still alive, and he could go see it. What a breathtaking building that's going to be when it's done."

And as the new student center nears completion, the Friends of Monroe know that Zeffert's legacy will endure. Though he built a lasting reputation in Baltimore through his business and community involvement, they take pride that Johns Hopkins will always carry a piece of him in Mr. Z's Kitchen and Lounge in the HSC.

In just a few weeks, the Friends of Monroe, which grew from the initial group to include many others in his Hopkins class, rallied to raise the funds to name the food hall preparation kitchens, as well as a small lounge area in the HSC, Mr. Z's Kitchen and Lounge.