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Long Island, NY - If you’ve ever had takeaway coffee in New York City, you’ve seen the iconic “We Are Happy to Serve You” cup, with its blue-and-white Grecian theme. It’s called the Anthora, and is only available in New York, though their fame has spread around the world. Leslie Buck, who designed the Anthora, has passed away at age 87 due to complications from Parkinsons Disease.

The Anthora seems to have been here forever, as if bestowed by the gods at the city’s creation. But in fact, it was created by man — one man in particular, a refugee from Nazi Europe named Leslie Buck.

Leslie Buck designed the Anthora (a play on “Amphora”, a two-handled Greek vase) while working for the Sherri Cup Company in 1963. The design was later acquired by Solo Cups, and has been holding hot beverages for 47 years.

Leslie Buck was born Lazlo Buch, in what is now Ukraine. a Jew, he survived internment in Auschwitz and Buchenwald befroe making his way to New York City. He and his brother went into business together shortly thereafter. After starting work for the Sherri Cup Company, Leslie Buck came up with the idea of a Greek-themed cup to crack into the New York diner market, as most at the time were owned by Greeks.

“We Are Happy To Serve You: A New York Institution

Leslie Buck created a successful design that would soon come to stand for New York City itself. The original Anthora is only made by request, though the city is flooded with imitators (“It’s a Pleasure to Serve You”).

Read more about Leslie at NY Tomes Obituary 

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