February 15, 2007 Issue                                       

©2007 The Chestnut Hill Local

Hillers prepare ‘silent dinner’; the only sound was from forks
by SALLY COHEN

Bobby Bendig, left, of Chestnut Hill, helps serve with PSD Headmaster Joe Fischgrund, an Erdenhein resident who helped Bobby with the food preparation.

Food prepared by Robert M. (Bobby) Bendig, a trained chef from Chestnut Hill who has cooked at La Famiglia and the Philadelphia Cricket Club, was served at a special “Silent Dinner” on Friday, Feb. 9, at The Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, 100 W. School House Lane in Germantown. The purpose of the dinner at which NO words were spoken or heard was to allow the parents and families of some of the 230 deaf or hard-of- hearing students attending PSD to enjoy an evening of fun-filled communication and interaction.

“This was the first time PSD has had an event of this type, and over 100 people and about 25 families attended,” said PSD Headmaster Joseph E. Fischgrund, a resident of Erdenheim. Fischgrund drew on his own culinary skills and experience as a college waiter to assist Bendig.

Bobby’s meal was a true Italian feast including pasta Alfredo, baked ziti, roasted vegetables, sausage and peppers, meatballs and chicken parmigiana. Each table sat 6-8 individuals including the families and their children as well as a deaf/hearing team of PSD faculty who served as communication facilitators.

PSD high school students worked as servers and buspersons. PSD Principal Marsha Miceli, who is deaf, served as emcee and was assisted by Robert DeMayo, a nationally recognized deaf actor and performer, to entertain the diners.

Bendig generously donated his time, and a number of local groups and food markets also made donations so that there would be no charge to attend for PSD families. The Chestnut Hill Bocce Club provided some funding, and Baker Street Bread Company in Chestnut Hill donated bread.

“Bobby Bendig’s food was wonderful,” said Ruth S. Cella, director of development and public relations for the school. “He learned all his Italian cooking skills from his mother and grandmother. He did this for PSD because he believes in giving back to the community. He is a very sweet man in addition to being a fabulous cook!

“We plan to make this Silent Dinner an annual event for students and their parents; the only sound in the room was the forks scraping the plates clean!”