Ari remembers our friend, Laurey Masterton.

I first met Laurey Masterton when she came to ZingTrain, probably fifteen years ago. From the beginning it was clear that she was a special person, her energy and her drive to make a difference were such positive forces in the world.  Over the years Laurey came back many times, to write a long term vision, to learn about Servant Leadership, to find out more about Open Book Management.  Any time I met someone from Asheville, I would mention her and get a big smile in return—it seemed like everyone in the town loved Laurey. Whether it was with her business, in supporting cancer research, helping her staff members, contributing to the community, Laurey was intent on using her gentle presence to make a positive difference.  In the process she took on, and beat back, her own cancer many times.  Her most recent cause was honey and bees—as bees have become endangered due to disease and ecological issues, Laurey took them on as another of her causes.  She became so inspired that she wrote a book about them. And it was the release of that book last fall that triggered our plans to host Laurey here at Zingerman’s for a couple of honey-centric events.

Five days before she was due to arrive in Ann Arbor, I got an email from Adam Thome, long time manager at Laurey’s, that she wasn’t feeling well and that it probably wouldn’t be a good idea for her travel.  We decided to go ahead with dinner at Zingerman’s Roadhouse anyway.  Laurey’s slogan for all these years has been “Don’t Postpone Joy!”  Given that, it seemed silly not to proceed apace, as I’m sure she would have wanted.  Two days before the dinner I found out that Laurey was in hospice. The next morning she was gone. Her departure is a loss for the Asheville community, her customers, staff, family, and many others around the world who were impacted by her positive presence.  To really understand what Laurey did for her community and how cherished a person she was there, take a look at any her Facebook page, her business page, and the Laurey’s Catering website. She will be missed.

If you’d like to make a donation in Laurey’s honor, consider the Save the Honeybee Foundation or the Honeybee Preservation Foundation. 

Here are some photos from the Beekeepers Dinner held at Zingerman’s Roadhouse

Honey varietals waiting to be sampled.

Paul Bantle & Annie Elder, beekeepers at Community Farms

There were several other local beekeepers among the guests.

Ari talks about Laurey and her history with Zingerman’s.

Ari and Chef Alex.

Chef Alex talks about the dinner menu.

Paul Bantle of Community Farms holds a rack from one of his bee hives.

Paul shares the rack with guests.

Paul reads a selection from ‘City of the Bees’ by Frank Stuart.

Ari holding the dinner menu and Laurey Masterton’s ‘The Fresh Honey Cookbook.’

In the words of Laurey Masterton.

Interested in learning more?

• Community Farms page.
• National Honey Board.
• Michigan Beekeepers Association.
• Southeastern Michigan Beekeepers Association. 
• US Beekeeping Associations list.