Story Archive

The Waiter’s Revenge

Retired social worker Karen Vinacour, 79, had sold a New York City apartment and wanted to use money from that sale to buy a new home, but she lost the $423,987.55 cashier’s check for the down payment. Citibank said they couldn’t even start the process to reissue the check for three months — and then only if someone didn’t cash it in the meantime. The day she lost the check, Vinacour had lunch at Patsy’s Pizzeria to go over the financial documents with her daughter. They’d commented that the pictures on the walls didn’t include enough women, and waiter Armando Markaj had, she recalled, shrugged and said, “Maybe women don’t eat a lot of pizza?” His response didn’t please Vinacour’s daughter, and when the time came to clear the table, Markaj did not find a tip. He did, however, find the bank check. “I ran out to the street to look for her,” he said, “but she was gone.” He turned the check over to Patsy’s owner, who called a newspaper, which found Vinacour. She promptly went back to the restaurant, and this time, she offered Markaj a tip. He turned it down. (AC/New York Daily News) ...That’s one slice with extra dignity.