Leslie Buck, designer of iconic paper cup with Greek motif, dies in NY at 87

NY coffee cup creator Leslie Buck dies at 87

NEW YORK — Countless New Yorkers and visitors have warmed their hands on it — a blue, white and gold cardboard cup with an ancient Grecian design, steaming with coffee or tea.

This pop-culture emblem of New York is slowly disappearing. And now the man who created it is gone.

Leslie Buck died earlier this week on Long Island at age 87.

The Holocaust survivor from Eastern Europe decorated his creation with Greek urns, steaming coffee cups, and the phrase “We Are Happy To Serve You.”

Greek diners and other eateries were, in fact, happy to serve hundreds of millions of customers sipping from the cups over the decades.