Robert R. Rada, 73, of Lombard, a bricklayer who put his skills to work at Villa Park High School District 88, died Monday, Feb. 19, in Elmhurst Memorial Hospital. Known as the “superintendent of the neighborhood,” Mr. Rada was a Lombard resident for 45 years. He was born in Elmhurst and grew up in Villa Park. Trained as a bricklayer, he gave up the trade when the nation’s economy weakened in the 1980s, said his daughter, Robin. “There was no building going on and he sought other work. District 88 hired him as a maintenance man, and that’s where he worked for eight years, fixing what had to be fixed and making sure things were right,” his daughter said. He retired in 1991. Mr. Rada was a radio interceptor with the Army during the Korean War. Widely known and liked in Lombard, Mr. Rada was a scoutmaster for Troop 98 and a former Little League coach with the Lombard Colts. A longtime member of Community Congregational Church in Villa Park, he was married there 46 years ago, served on its board of trustees and was a former deacon. “He had an incredible sense of humor and loved a good practical joke,” his daughter said. “He could walk into Mr. Z’s in Lombard and just about know everybody in the grocery store.” Other survivors include his wife, Mary; three sons, Jeff, Mark and Jim; and four grandchildren. Visitation will be held from 10:30 a.m. until services at 11:30 a.m. Thursday in Community Congregational Church, 410 S. Cornell Ave., Villa Park.
