$150.00 - Luxembourg American Heritage Information Center

membership. In late 1969, George E. Blameuser and Joe Dockendorff, Sr. attended a special
Grand Lodge convention with instructions to vote against dissolution. This was accomplished
and the Grand Lodge survived. However, the requirement to pay quarterly dues to the Grand
Lodge was discontinued in February, 1970.
In September, 1970, former President Math Dechambre passed away followed by Frank
Becker, in November.
As with many clubs and organizations entering the 1970's, the membership of Section 15
steadily eroded. Only four new members have joined Section 15 since 1971: Richard J. Witry,
Lawrence F. Molitor, Jr., John W. Haben, and John J. Jung. C.M. Death continued to rob the
Section of its vitality. Peter Endre died in 1971 and Steve Zibilski died in 1972. Peter Freres and
Mike Weber died in 1973, the latter a 50 year member. Henry Weber died in 1974, Andy Greiner
in 1978, H. John Hansen in 1979 and George E. Blameuser in 1980.
Richard J. Witry (married to Patricia Lewis) was born on April 8,1950. He was the fourth
child of Joseph and Catherine Witry and the third Witry to join Section 15, in 1973. Raised in
Skokie, he attended St. Peter's, Loyola Academy and graduated from Holy Cross College,
Worcester, Massachussetts in 1972. In 1976, he received his law degree from John Marshall Law
School, Chicago, and began practicing law with McCarthy, Duffy, Neidhart & Snakard, the firm
in which his father had been a partner.
In 1978, he was appointed by the Luxembourg government as its Vice-Consul in Chicago,
with jurisdiction over the states of Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. In 1980, he was named,
by Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg, a Chevalier of the Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy
of Luxembourg.
Having been influenced by his politically active father and older sister, Joan W. Corner,
Dick became active in Skokie politics by running for the office of Commissioner of the Skokie
Park District in 1979. He defeated his opponent handily and served one six year term which
ended in 1985. He was the fourth member of Section 15 to hold a Commissioner's post,
succeeding John Kalmes, Ben Schaul, and Henry N. Weber.
It was earlier noted that a travel agent located in Luxembourg, Emil Weitzl, had sent a letter
to Section 15 in 1952 informing the Section of his group's planned visit to Chicago. At the time
of that visit, a friendship arose between Weitzl and Joe Witry, Sr. which would evolve into a
friendship with Dick Witry.
When Joe Witry, Sr. died in 1967, all of the information pertaining to his Luxembourg
heritage died with him. On many occasions, Dick Witry would be asked if he had relatives in
Luxembourg and he would respond by saying that he was unaware of any.
In October, 1984 in preparation for the Grand Duke's state visit to Chicago, Consul Stephen
Heinz and Vice-Consul Witry spent four days in Luxembourg meeting with officials. On the last
day, their meetings having ended, Witry expressed a wish to their host, Emil Weitzl, to see the
George S. Patton, Jr. Museum in Ettelbruck. Weitzl responded by saying that the Museum had
closed for the season, but that he would see what could be done to accommodate Witry's wish.
Heinz, Weitzl and Witry proceeded to Ettelbruck and met with one Leon Scher, for the
purpose of gaining admittance to the museum. Weitzl, speaking Letzebuergesch, introduced the
group to Scher. After several seconds of conversation with Weitzl in his native tongue, Scher
addressed Witry in English, by stating that he had known a Joseph Witry from Chicago, and
proceeded to describe him. Witry replied that the figure described was Joseph Witry, Sr., his
father. Scher replied: "My mother and your father are first cousins." Dick Witry was stunned! He
turned to Weitzl and said that he didn't believe what he had just heard. Weitzl assured him that
he was just as surprised at this turn of events, as did Heinz. Despite their assurances, he still did
not believe them or Scher.
Scher called home and requested his wife to pick up his mother and bring her to their
home. Upon completing the tour of the Patton Museum, they accompanied Leon Scher to
his home. Within seconds after their arrival, Anna Scher came into the house. After an exchange
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