By Jack Armistead
Downtowner Editor
If you like a great cup of coffee and helping
a worthy cause, Uncle Pete’s World Famous
Gourmet Coffee is your perfect choice.
The special blend, named after well known
local attorney Peter G. Decker, Jr., is available
for purchase at Norfolk Coffee and Tea Company
located at 212 E. 18th Street just off Monticello
Avenue. You can call ahead to place your order
for pickup at 622-3950 or just drop by.
If you purchase a bag of the special blend,
$1.00 is donated to St. Jude Children’s
Research Hospital for each bag sold.
Even though Decker’s contributions to
the community as a lawyer are significant,
they are only part of the whole picture of
who he is. Decker’s commitment to helping
people has led him to serve on many boards
and committees on a local, regional and national
level. His service to St. Jude Children’s
Research Hospital has been extensive. For
over 50 years, he has been a member of the
St Jude Board of Governors and Directors and
he is a former National Executive Vice President
in charge of fund raising for St. Jude Hospital.
He was elevated to the position of Director
Emeritus for the hospital in 1999.
Norfolk Coffee and Tea Co., established in
1918, is currently owned and operated by Nick
and Chris Stephanitsis, who took the company
over from their father, Jerry. Jerry, one
of The Downtowner’s best friend’s,
will celebrate his 100th Birthday this month.
The City of Norfolk will present him with
a special proclamation in his honor February
10.
Decker explained how the coffee that bears
his name and image came about.
“Nick Stephanitsis called me and wanted
to do an UNCLE PETE COFFEE whereby he would
give a portion to St. Jude. He brought me
the regular and decaf bags with my image and
I liked it. When Nick was on WVEC-TV he said
the coffee was a mix of Columbian and Guatemalan.
Nick said they chose this blend because the
taste was ‘bold with a great personality
just like Uncle Pete.’”
Says Nick, “It’s a signature product.
We feel it has Uncle Pete’s personality
and mind. It is very bold. It is prestigious.”
Chris said it was a natural fit for a great
cause. “I am very blessed with three
healthy childen and it’s such a blessing
to be associated with St. Jude Children’s
Research Hospital and see all the miracles
they perform every day for young children.”
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital,
based in Memphis, Tennessee, is a pediatric
research hospital that has been recognized
internationally for its research in childhood
cancers and other diseases.
In 1962 St. Jude opened its doors to the public.
The hospital was founded by actor Danny Thomas.
Mr. Thomas believed that children should not
die in the dawn of their lives because of
cancer and other deadly diseases. The hospital
was a way for him to help make that dream
possible for families everywhere. When St.
Jude finds a cure for cancer or any catastrophic,
incurable disease, that protocol is sent to
hospitals throughout the world including right
here at King’s Daughters in Norfolk,
Virginia.
As a very young man, Danny Thomas was struggling
to make ends meet, and his wife was expecting
their first child. At a church in Detroit,
he knelt before a statue of St. Jude and asked
for help. Mr. Thomas promised to build a shrine
to St. Jude if the saint would see his family
through this difficult financial time. Throughout
the years, he repeated his request to St.
Jude, and each time he found an answer to
help him. In turn, Danny kept his promise
to the saint and St. Jude Children’s
Research Hospital was opened.
His daughter, Marlo Thomas is the main advocate
for the hospital these days as Danny (her
father) passed away in 1991. She works very
hard to bring awareness to people and to solicit
donations.
In addition to his work over the years for
St. Jude, Decker served as Chairman of the
Virginia State Board of Corrections. He completed
his 10-year term as Chairman of the National
Maritime Center (Nauticus) in Norfolk, and
is the immediate past Chairman of the Norfolk
International Airport. His lifelong dedication
to the people of our communities was recognized
by Norfolk’s Cosmopolitan Club when the
members for that prestigious organization
named him Norfolk’s First Citizen in
1999.
Decker has served as a member of the State
Board of Education, appointed by Governor
Wilder. He was the founding Chairman of the
Business Improvement District in downtown
Norfolk and is also a member of the Norfolk
Board of Directors of TowneBank. Decker and
his wife Bess brought the mermaids to Norfolk
and they are seen throughout the town. Decker
presently serves on the Board of Visitors
of Norfolk State University.
Uncle Pete’s World Famous Gourmet Coffee
can also be purchased in many stores and places
such as the Pottery in Williamsburg and Farm
Fresh Grocery Stores along with a host of
others which can be found on the internet
at: Unclepetescoffee.com.
It’s worth a visit to Norfolk Coffee
and Tea to say hello and purchase your bag
of Uncle Pete’s Coffee there.
When you do, please tell them THE DOWNTOWNER
sent you.
