Owner of West Chester's Jake's Bar Passes Away: 2017 In Review

2017 Year in Review: Orazio Matteo “Jake” Nastase, owner of the iconic local establishment Jake's Bar, passed away in January.

WEST CHESTER, PA -- Jake Nastase, the longtime owner of West Chester's Jake's Bar, has passed away, friends confirmed.

Nastase opened the iconic bar 79 years ago, in 1938. Since then it has served as a town meeting place, welcoming residents, students, and out-of-towners from all walks of life, at all times of the day and night.

"Jake's is a place you can count on. We'll be here a long time, and the regulars will always be here," Nastase told West Chester University's student newspaper, The Quad, in a 2012 profile.

Friends and acquaintances described Nastase as a "legend" and an "icon" in tributes posted to the Jake's Bar Facebook page.

Jake's is located on 549 S. Matlack Street.

Obituary below courtesy of DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith, and Boyd Funeral Home

Orazio Matteo “Jake” Nastase, 78, passed away Tuesday January 17, 2017 at his home in West Chester, PA following an enduring struggle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

Jake was preceded in death by his wife Gail M. Nastase and his daughter Michelle Nastase Domsohn. He leaves his children Andrea M. Turley and her husband John, Nicole Nastase Addis and her husband Ken, Orazio A. Nastase and his wife Kelly, and his son-in- law Dwayne Domsohn. Most importantly, he leaves behind 12 cherished grandchildren: Michaela, Derek, Abigail, John, Madeline, Austin, Anthony, Daisy, Marygail, Orazio Henry, Grace, and Lillian.

Jake was born in Snow Shoe, PA. He was the son of the late Orazio and Rena Nastase. At age 17, he joined the United States Marine Corps and rapidly climbed to the rank of Corporal. It was during his time in the Marines that he became known as Jake. At the end of his service, he received a football scholarship to Villanova University. While attending school, he worked with his sister Rose in the family business.

In 1962, he married Gail and remained happily married until her passing in 2002. They raised their family in West Chester and it was evident that his family was his life’s priority. In 1975, with the passing of his sister Rose, he took sole ownership of the family business and created Jake’s Bar, as it is known today. Jake poured his heart and soul into the business and truly relished the friends he made along the way.

He was a hard-working, compassionate, devoted, and loving person. He could light up a room with his smile, sense of humor, and larger than life personality. Jake had a passion for hunting and restoring old cars. He enjoyed attending car shows and flea markets, but his true love was being a grandfather.

Private funeral services were held on Friday, January 20, 2017.

Remembrance t-shirts can be purchased at Jake’s Bar and all proceeds will be donated to the ALS Association in his name.

Image courtesy DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith, and Boyd Funeral Home