Patrons of Elk Grove sports bar missing a friendly and familiar face

Patrons of a popular Elk Grove Village sports bar will miss seeing a friendly familiar face when they walk in.

Connie Carcerano, who greeted guests with a smile and a table assignment for more than two decades at Coach's Corner Pizzeria & Sports Grill, died Monday after an illness. The 86-year-old Mount Prospect resident worked the hostess stand at Coach's since the restaurant/bar opened in 1997, until her retirement last summer due to illness.

Connie was the mother of Coach's co-owner Joe Carcerano. She previously worked at Frankie's Two in Des Plaines, the Carcerano family's first business, and Jake's Pizza, all while raising two children.

Connie, 4 feet, 10 inches tall, in recent years still drove to work - seated on a stack of phone books. She worked as a volunteer during lunch service on weekdays, and Friday nights, when her girlfriends would come in and sit at a table next to the hostess stand.

"They called her the Energizer Bunny," said Sue Remien, the bar's co-owner.

Visitation is scheduled from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday, at Grove Memorial Chapel, 1199 S. Arlington Heights Road in Elk Grove Village.