Greetings fellow Oak Lawnians!
The Homestead Barr, on the corner of Central Avenue and Southwest Highway, is a well-known gathering spot for many Oak Lawn residents and families.
But visitors will miss a friendly operator of the bar, Ed Adomaitis Jr., who died last month.
“My brother was very loving and a kind man,” recalled Adomaitis’ sister, Dottie Arnold.
Even though Adomaitis will be missed, the family is stepping up to continue the business.
The “Homestead” has been long owned and run by the Adomaitis family. The business marked it’s 65th anniversary in March.
The Homestead business started when Ed Adomaitis Sr. and his wife, Dorothy (“Dot”), purchased a big white farmhouse in 1951 from John Simpson. At the time, Ed Adomaitis Sr. was working at the Ford plant by Ford City and the couple had been married for nine years. They had two young children, their 6 year old daughter, now Sharon Skora, and 4 year old son, Ed Jr. and the family lived in the apartment above the bar.
The couple went on to have two more daughters, Debbie Butler, and their youngest, Dottie Arnold, named after her mother.
Even though she wasn’t born yet, Arnold knows of those early years when her parents and older siblings first moved to Oak Lawn and opened the Homestead.
Arnold said “they struggled for the first five years, because it was so remote here and it was a growing community. My dad took a gamble. You might say his vision was to make it work.” There was a lot of work to do to keep the bar running so Ed, Jr. and Skora pitched in to help their parents. Back then, the bar was open 23 hours a day, closing for only an hour to clean.
Arnold said, “when they first moved to Oak Lawn, my sister hated it because there was nothing out here.” It also was difficult for her brother until, she said, “he befriended two boys whose parents were building a house out here. The family would come out every weekend and, then Ed finally had someone to play with and run around with.”
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As time went on, the community began to grow, and the bar enjoyed a steady group of “regulars” who stopped by after work and on weekends. Eventually, those relationships evolved into life-long friendships, still true today – 65 years later. Skora, the oldest of the Adomaitis children, said when people are in the Homestead, “it’s just the camaraderie and closeness you feel being around people and observing them.”
Ed Adomaitis Sr. and his wife lost their daughter, Butler, to cancer in 1980 and when Adomaitis’ wife passed away, he continued to run the bar with help from his children, particularly his, son, Ed Adomaitis Jr.
Ed Adomaitis Sr. was close to all his children, but he was especially close to his son.
A proud moment for the Adomaitis family was in 1998, when the Preservation Commission of Oak Lawn recognized the Homestead as a historic landmark.
When the time came for Ed Adomaitis Sr. to step down, he asked his son to take over the business. Ed Adomaitis Jr. was happy to do it.
“Ed knew he did right by his parents, but he did it out of respect and love. He was proud of what our parents had done,” Arnold said.
Ed Adomaitis Sr. remained active in running the bar with his son until he passed away in 2007.
Being a family-run business, the Homestead has always been family-oriented and even dog-friendly. It’s not unusual for one of their regulars to stop in with their wife, children or dog. Over the years, the bar has always had a dog “greeter.”
Arnold said, “there’s been Zazz, JB, Dude, Roxy and Raven.”
Ed Adomaitis Jr.’s nick-name was “dog whisperer” because he had a special bond with dogs.
Life changed for the family five years ago when Ed Adomaitis Jr. was diagnosed with cancer. During those years, he never played the role of the victim or acted sad. Instead, he chose to embrace his faith, enjoy his life, cherished his family, friends, his beloved dogs and carried on with running the Homestead.
In early July, Ed Adomaitis Jr. was not doing well and spent several days in the hospital. Skora said, “he said he wanted to go home to my dog.”
He did return home to his beloved Raven and, less then a day later, he passed away on July 6 at age 69.
“He died the way he lived his life, fully active, fun loving,” Skora said. “He was a friend to everybody. He was my friend like he was to everyone. If you were having a bad day, you could talk to Eddie and you felt better. You felt energized afterwards.”
Arnold said, quoting Tim Pender, who was a good friend of Ed Adomaitis Jr., “He was a friend to many and a stranger to none.”
Ed will be missed by many. The world and the community was a better place with Ed in it.
Here’s this week’s celebrity announcements: Happy third birthday to Lola Gornik, with love, from her parents, Amanda and Chris, and their family. Happy birthday to Jack LeCompte, who’s turning 5, from grandma and grandpa LeCompte, grandma Laverne, his parents, Joseph and Joanne, and Julia. Birthday wishes also go out to Joanne LeCompte. Becky and Jim Wills wish their son, Jasper, a happy ninth birthday. Birthday wishes go out to Cayden Cadwell, who’s turning 13. Happy 14th birthday to Sarah Truesdale, and to her sister, Kimberly, who’s celebrating her 21st birthday. Birthday wishes go out to Cole Candos, who’s turning 16, from his parents, Carrie and Don, and grandparents, Jean and Don. Mary and Ryan Thompson wish their daughter, Roxanne, a happy birthday. Dave and Sandy Wills send birthday wishes to their granddaughter, Michelle Wills, who’s turning 21. Happy birthday to Jessie Sharon, who’s turning 21, from her parents and family. Birthday wishes go out to Rachel Pender, who’s turning 23, from her parents, Tina and Tim, and Christina. Happy 24th birthday to Danny McInerney, from his mom, Mary Sue, family and Liz Beth. Birthday wishes go out to Michael Petzel, who’s turning 24, and to his brother, Drew, who’s turning 28, from their dad, Fran and family. Happy 44th birthday to Danielle Cohen from her children and family. Birthday wishes go out to Joan Cozza, from her daughters, Michelle and Cathy. Happy birthday to Anne Casey, from her husband, John, and their family. Alida Carpenter, Cindy Ziebart and Marge Joy are celebrating their birthdays. Happy birthday to Chris Mathews, from his wife, Shannon, son, Cayden and family. Birthday greetings go out to Leo Gutchewesky, Bob Kuenster and Chuck Groebe.
Wedding anniversary wishes go out to Will and Erica Petzel on their third anniversary and to Chris and Shannon Mathews on their fourth anniversary.
Keep your fellow Oak Lawnians informed about birthdays, special events or special “stuff” going on with your family or within the community. Call me at (708) 899-9544 or e-mail me at the address above.
Until next time…