[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 25, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1041-S1042]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 REMEMBERING STRATTON ``STRATTY'' LINES

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, today I remember a dear friend to Marcelle 
and me. Stratton ``Stratty'' Lines was for more than 40 years the 
proprietor of the Oasis Diner in Burlington, VT. Throughout its 
history, the diner was the center of many a political discussion over a 
hearty breakfast or tasty lunch and lots of laughs too. At the center 
of all the activity was Stratty, a first-generation American who, with 
his family, built a successful business in downtown Burlington. One of 
Stratty's sons, David, describes his father as the ``quintessential 
Vermonter.'' Stratty was that and so much more. He was a good family 
man and a hard worker who cared about working people.
  I have many fond memories of the Oasis Diner, perhaps chief among 
them, eating breakfast there, celebrating with Stratty, and thanking 
voters the morning after I was first elected to the Senate in 1974. The 
diner was a popular stop among visitors to Vermont, including President 
Bill Clinton and Vice President Walter Mondale. During their visits and 
during my many trips to the diner, Stratty imparted the wisdom and 
common sense for which he was so well known and will be long 
remembered.
  In memory of Stratty Lines, I ask that the article by Mike Donoghue 
of the Burlington Free Press, ``Oasis Diner proprietor Stratton 
`Stratty' Lines remembered as quintessential Vermonter,'' be printed in 
the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

            [From the Burlington Free Press, Feb. 17, 2014]

  Oasis Diner Proprietor Stratty Lines Remembered as ``Quintessential 
                              Vermonter''


 Stratty Lines, longtime owner of Burlington's Oasis Diner, remembered 
                       for food and conversation

                           (By Mike Donoghue)

       When Stratton ``Stratty'' Lines helped opened the Oasis 
     Diner more than 40 years ago, coffee was a dime, and 
     hamburgers cost 25 cents. Over the years, Lines served up 
     food to the rich and the poor, the famous and the infamous.
       His customers included local politicians and the president 
     of the United States. The food was always good, and so was 
     the conversation.
       ``I could learn more in 20 minutes with Stratty then I 
     could with any polls,'' said U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt. 
     ``Stratty heard everything. He knew what was gossip and what 
     made sense.''
       Lines often was spotted in a white short-order-cook hat 
     trimmed in red, a white shirt and an apron over his pants. He 
     also was a well-known Democratic supporter.
       His health had been failing in recent months, one of his 
     sons, David, said, and he was found dead of natural causes 
     Friday at his Williston home. He was 84.
       ``He was the quintessential Vermonter, a first-generation 
     American who established a small business that became an 
     institution in this community,'' David Lines said.
       The Oasis Diner was a popular breakfast and lunch spot just 
     east of Church Street for

[[Page S1042]]

     the movers and shakers of greater Burlington, but also for 
     common folks. The draw was more than just the food--and more 
     than just politics. Stratty Lines would follow sports, 
     community events and all the other headlines of the day.
       Leahy said a visit to Burlington was incomplete without a 
     stop at the Oasis to learn the latest. When he offered 
     condolences to David Lines, ``I said I loved going in 
     there,'' Leahy recounted. ``I could learn more going in there 
     by having breakfast.''
       The Oasis remained a local institution until 2007, when the 
     business was sold to become a New York-style delicatessen. 
     The building now is home to El Cortijo.
       Even in death, Lines sought to ensure people were properly 
     fed. The Chittenden County Meals on Wheels, along with the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs, are two organizations the 
     family has suggested people make donations in Lines' memory 
     instead of sending flowers.
       Lines was born in Greece, graduated from Burlington High in 
     1947 and served as a military policeman in the U.S. armed 
     forces in Germany from 1951-53.
       Leahy, Vermont's senior senator and a former Chittenden 
     County prosecutor, said lots of political debates were held 
     in the 17-by-40-foot diner. He said Lines enjoyed hearing the 
     hot-button topics of the day.
       Lines was a gracious host, Leahy said, and always asked 
     about his wife, Marcelle, and their children before anything 
     else. Leahy said he believes he began frequenting the Oasis 
     as a student at St. Michael's College, where he graduated in 
     1961, but he became more of a regular following law school 
     and returning to Vermont in the mid '60s.
       When he served as Chittenden County state's attorney, Leahy 
     said, he would sometimes run names of potential jurors past 
     Lines.
       ``He'd say, `You might want to avoid that one,' or `That 
     would be a good one,' '' Leahy said.
       Lines was as popular with house-painters as he was with 
     politicians. Alden Cadwell, 56, of Burlington said he always 
     enjoyed his stops at the diner.
       ``Stratty was a big-hearted man with the biggest welcoming 
     smile in Burlington,'' Cadwell said. ``He ran a diner that a 
     regular patron came for the theater as much as the food.''
       Cadwell said patrons got to hear cooks, waiters and other 
     customers exchanging orders and quips.
       ``You did not leave the Oasis hungry or un-entertained,'' 
     Cadwell said.
       Former federal Judge Albert W. Coffrin often could be seen 
     sitting on a revolving stool at the counter. Coffrin once 
     confided to a Burlington Free Press reporter that the Oasis 
     was among his favorite stops.
       Lawyers, bankers, merchants, the clergy and others also 
     frequented the Burlington landmark.
       Leahy said he brought President Bill Clinton into the diner 
     during a visit to Burlington on July 31, 1995, to speak at 
     the National Governors Association convention in South 
     Burlington.
       After a picture-taking event that included Clinton, Leahy, 
     Lines and then-Gov. Howard Dean outside the diner, the 
     nation's commander-in-chief stepped inside to enjoy lunch. 
     The Oasis served up a hand-carved, overstuffed sandwich of 
     fresh turkey on seeded rye, a Diet Coke and a slice of apple 
     pie.
       ``Thanks for a great lunch,'' Clinton said when he 
     departed.
       ``This was the highlight of my life, after the birth of my 
     children,'' Lines would say later--especially significant, he 
     added, for the son of Greek immigrants who arrived in the 
     country without a dime.
       His parents opened the diner in 1954, and Lines, who worked 
     briefly at General Electric, soon joined the family business.
       Lines would later say proudly he picked up the tab for 
     President Clinton's meal.
       ``I don't think he ever got over that,'' Dean said Monday 
     as he recalled the presidential visit.
       ``Stratty was an important guy. The ordinary person 
     listened to him. He would rarely endorse somebody. He would 
     say, So and so was a good guy,''' the former Vermont governor 
     said.
       ``He would be more blatant once he got to know you better. 
     He was the best of the old guard. He was socially 
     conservative and business conservative,'' Dean said. ``He was 
     very much for the working class. It was a family business, 
     and his kids were working in there. It was kind of cool.''
       Clinton wasn't the only brush with greatness for Lines.
       A picture of him shaking hands with President Jimmy Carter 
     also was displayed at the diner.
       Vice President Walter Mondale stopped for pancakes shortly 
     before the March 1980 primary. Tipper Gore, wife of Vice 
     President Al Gore, enjoyed a slice of apple pie and ice cream 
     in July 1999. A few other celebrity customers included Susan 
     Sarandon, Tim Robbins, Lyle Lovett and Elliot Gould.
       Lines was a longtime New York Yankees fan, but he said in 
     1977 that he converted to the Toronto Blue Jays after his 
     veteran sportscasting friend Tom Cheek left WVMT-AM in 
     Colchester and became the voice of the Blue Jays. Lines would 
     visit Cheek during spring training and during the regular 
     season.
       Leahy said after he was elected to Congress, he would 
     receive phone calls from the White House or from ambassadors 
     and others while he was having breakfast at the Oasis. The 
     ambassador from Russia called once.
       A few days later, a political friend called the diner and, 
     speaking with a put-on Russian accent, claimed to be a phone 
     operator in Moscow. He confirmed with Lines that Leahy had 
     taken the ambassador's call. The prankster told Lines the 
     politician's call was made collect, and he owed $437.84, and 
     then he hung up.
       ``Stratty loved to tell the story to everyone about the 
     calls,'' Leahy said.
       A celebration of Lines' life is planned for 4-7 p.m. 
     Thursday at the Corbin and Palmer Funeral Home in Essex 
     Junction. A brief service is planned at the funeral home at 
     10 a.m. Friday followed by a private interment.
       Survivors include three sons, Jon, Gary and David, all in 
     the Burlington area, and daughter Maria in California.

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