'Self-made man' deeply involved in communities

Few in this world can legitimately claim the title of hero, but Joseph J. Brdecka was one of them.

More than 60 years ago, he was commended for saving the life of a 6-year-old Palatine girl in breathtaking fashion.

It was 1947, and Mr. Brdecka was in Palatine making a delivery for Interstate Bakeries in Palatine when he saw a little girl standing on the tracks near the Brockway Street crossing, distracted by railroad workers and seemingly unaware of the train bearing down on her from the other direction.

According to newspaper accounts at the time, Mr. Brdecka flew out of his truck, and even as he could feel heat from the oncoming locomotive, he scooped up the girl and rolled to safety, with no more than seconds to spare.

His family members now are cherishing all of the accounts and awards, including a Certificate of Honor for Meritorious Service signed by Marshall Field, publisher and editor of the Chicago Sun Times.

Mr. Brdecka died on Sunday. The former 64-year Glenview resident was 90.

Chicago & North Western station agent Albert W. Moore was quoted in the Chicago Daily Times as saying: "It was a wonderful act of bravery. The train missed him by no more than a foot."

At the time, Mr. Brdecka had a daughter of his own around the same age, as well as two younger children and another one on the way. When congratulated for being a hero, he reportedly said: "My job's selling bakery goods, and I'll have to get on it."

Family members say that kind of quiet resolve was the hallmark of his life. Mr. Brdecka grew up in Chicago, and even as young as 8, he sacked potatoes to help earn extra money, and at the age of 14, he left school to go to work when his mother became ill.

He worked a series of jobs, from selling shoes for Maling Brothers to working on the railroad, before landing the Interstate Bakeries position. By 1957, Mr. Brdecka and his wife, Violet, opened their own clothing store, Dell's Apparel in Glenview, which grew to specialize in fine children's clothing. The couple ran the store until retiring in 2001.

As a prominent downtown merchant, Mr. Brdecka became involved in many community activities, including helping to start Glenview Youth Baseball and serving on the Countryside Civic Association, as well as the investigative committee to build Glenbrook Hospital.

His ties to the Northwest suburbs took hold in 1970, when his oldest daughter, Sr. Jo-Ann Brdecka, was named pastoral care director at St. Colette Catholic Church in Rolling Meadows.

Her entire family became involved in its parish activities, including Mr. Brdecka, who was a regular member of the golf league, and ushered 7:30 a.m. Mass every Sunday. Sr. Jo-Ann died in 1986, but a tree of life dedicated in her name stands in the church lobby.

Likewise, Mr. Brdecka's name is included on a plaque in the lobby of Glenbrook Hospital, as a member of the hospital's original grassroots committee.

"All this for a self-made man," says his daughter Carol Lou Brdecka of Glenview, "who sacked potatoes at the age of 8 years old."

Besides his daughter, Mr. Brdecka is survived by his wife of 66 years, Violet, his sons Michael (Sandra) Brdecka of Naperville, and John (Jill) Brdecka of Northbrook, as well as eight grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. today at St. Colette Church, 3900 Meadow Lane in Rolling Meadows.