Walter Leo Rasic

Walter Leo Rasic December 22, 1929 – Died May 2, 2016 Walter was born in Klobuk, Yugoslavia on December 22, 1929 to Eva and Nikola Rasic. He came to the United States as a toddler, and grew up in Echo Park with his brothers John, Peter and Nick. Walter attended Loyola High School and graduated in 1947. He attended Loyola University until he was kicked out for gambling (not sure if it was just cards or maybe a roulette wheel too). He served in the U.S. Army from 1951-1953. After he finished his service in the Army, Walter attended the University of Southern California and was a die-hard Trojan through the end. After Prohibition ended in 1933, Walter’s Dad, Nikola, opened Nick’s Café on Sunset and Beaudry. In 1958, Walter and his brothers opened Nikola’s at 1449 Sunset – just west of Dodger Stadium’s Elysian Park entrance. The Dodgers had just moved to LA. In 1964 Walter met Bonnie Jean White in Lake Arrowhead, California. The two were married on October 17, 1965 at Saint Anthony’s Croation Church in Los Angeles. Walter and Bonnie then had seven children over the course of the next ten years, all the while living in their home in Glendale. In the 1980s Walter served as a member of the Coliseum Commission and was a member of the Commission when the ‘84 Olympics were in Los Angeles. Walter and his brother Nick opened Dodsworth Bar & Grill in Old Town Pasadena in January 1987. Over the years, Walter served on the Board of Directors for Acapulco Restaurants, Los Angeles National Bank, Museum of Science and Industry and Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy. In 1997 he retired from the restaurant business after 40 years. Walter was known for his giant personality. He was quick to help his family, friends and customers forge relationships that lasted decades. He instilled strong family values in all of his children (and some pseudo-adopted children), along with a dedicated work ethic and devotion to community. He’s been described as “one of a kind,” “a legend,” “a character,” “a kind man, a good man.” He leaves behind wife Bonnie, daughter Rosemarie Gonzalez (husband Mike; sons Matthew and Thomas); daughter Theresa Gonzales (husband Mike; children Nicola, Christian and Joe); son Joe (wife Jenner; sons Ryan and Ben); son Peter (wife Diane; children Katie, Cameron and Maggie); son Matt (wife Joy; children Peter, Eva and Reagan); daughter Nicole, and daughter Melanie Savarese (husband Jeff; children Nathan and Grace). Services will be held at St. Bede Catholic Church in La Canada on Tuesday May 10th at 10:00 a.m. INTERMENT WILL BE PRIVATE FOR THE FAMILY. The Rasic family Scholarship care of Loyola High School will be accepting donations in Walter's name if you wish to honor him in that manner. He loved those Jesuits.