Jonas Stundzia stood on the front porch of the Bavarian Club on Knox Street in Lawrence started pointing and remembering.
He rattled off about 10 Lithuanian families that lived within a wedge shot of the club, on Knox Street, Montgomery Street, Cornish Street and Berkeley Street.
“This was a mecca for the Lits,” said Stundzia, a life-long Lawrence resident and current president of the Lithuanian Patriots Society. “I could on and on around this neighborhood. There always was a lot of Lithuanian pride around here.”
On Dec. 6, Stundzia’s organization will be exhibiting that pride, honoring one of the America’s most beloved Lithuanians, Dick Butkus, who passed away on Oct. 5 at age 80.
There will be two-hour “celebration” of Butkus’ life as well as paying homage to his passing from 3 to 5 p.m., which is free and open to the public. Donations can be made to the Dick Butkus Foundation, which focuses on heart health.
“Back when I was growing up, the Patriots weren’t around yet and most of us chose the New York Giants as our team,” said David Balczus. “But every Lithuanian always followed Butkus, too. Always. He played football the way it was supposed to played … tough and hard-nosed.”
Balczus recalled his father being a big Baltimore Colts fan because of another Lithuanian football great, Johnny Unitas.
“Pretty good, huh? Unitas and Butkus,” said Balczus. “It was great having Lithuanians to look up to like those two. We always wanted to know how they did in their games. I could watch Butkus play every day of the week.”
Stundzia estimates there are about 6,000 Lithuanians in Lawrence and over 10,000 in the Merrimack Valley.
Lithuanian broke away from the Soviet Union in 1990, with Feb. 16 the day celebrating the re-establishment of statehood and March 11 as Independence Restoration Day.
“We have some very important Lithuanians make their mark in America, including chemical geneticist Saulius Vaisnauskas, who has made huge strides in cancer research, former Berklee School of Music composer [Jeronimas] Kacinskas and former head of the Vatican Bank Paul Marcinkus,” said Stundzia.
Refreshments will be served, including Lithuanian desserts and a variety of cheese and crackers.
“Honoring Dick Butkus life and career,” he added, “is part of maintaining Lithuanian culture and awareness. Everyone is welcome to come.”