July 30, 2024
30 Years Ago, The Elks Lodge in Eustis Hired Waitress Who Became a Local Legend
By Gina Horan
30 Years Ago, The Elks Lodge in Eustis Hired Waitress Who Became a Local Legend
The year was 1994. “Friends” debuted on TV, O.J. Simpson occupied the headlines and The Lion King, Forrest Gump, Jurassic Park and Pulp Fiction were box office hits.
And JoAnn Daly began a bartending gig at the Elks Lodge #1578 in Eustis.
“I can’t believe it’s been 30 years this month,” JoAnn says. “I’ve seen it all, from watching babies grow up to saying goodbye to cherished members who pass on.”
JoAnn moved to Lake County in 1983 from Brooklyn and graduated from Mount Dora High in 1988. She worked in hospitality from a very young age into her 20s before a family emergency temporarily took her back to New York in 1994.
“When I returned here, I didn’t have a job so I picked up the classifieds, had multiple interviews and ended up filling in for a cocktail waitress who didn’t show up for the Elks,” she says. “The rest is history.”
As per the bartender’s “code of silence,” most of the tall tales and legendary shenanigans she witnessed will stay with her. One thing she couldn’t hide, however, was going into labor while on duty.
“It was on August 31, 1996 during a big Elks luau,” JoAnn says. “A bunch of members were dancing in a conga line wearing grass skirts and coconut tops and I couldn’t stop laughing so I’m sure it caused multiple contractions.”
Thank goodness retired Eustis Assistant Fire Chief Buddy Warren was there to help. Her son John arrived a few days later on September 5.
JoAnn and John’s father, Greg Blyler, her high school sweetheart and life partner, lived a typical happy family life until tragedy struck on September 28, 2005 when Greg suffered a massive heart attack and passed away at age 37.
“The Elks immediately rallied around me,” JoAnn says. “They gave us an emergency relief check plus condolence cards filled with donations that paid off our mortgage.”
She is now engaged to John Guenther, who has been her partner since 2007. They enjoy a life with their kids, grandkids and of course, the lodge.
“I’m proud to be a part of The Elks and its members, events, charitable endeavors and scholarships,” she says. “It’s the greatest fraternal organization in the world.”
Elks Lodge #1578 / 2540 Dora Ave., Eustis / 352.343.5000
YOU CAN FIND JOANN BEHIND THE BAR EVERY DAY AFTER 4PM, EXCEPT FOR SUNDAY.
Hit us up!
Hit us up!
Hit us up!
Gina moved to central Florida in August of 2021 from the San Francisco Bay Area. She has a bachelor’s degree in Linguistics and spent 10 years as a fashion editor, columnist and food writer for The Knight Ridder Newspaper group. She was also a photo stylist and covered concerts, fashion shows and festivals all over Northern California. In 2000, she joined KSAN radio as a morning show co-host and produced the news and sports content there for 4 years. She also covered travel, events and the restaurant scene for KRON-Bay TV. She is a veteran bartender and has worked in hospitality on and off since high school. Her passions include travel, road trips, history books, baseball, tasting menus and most of all, landing in a new city with no map or guidebook. Gina lives in Oxford with her mom, cats and baby hamster.
