[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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