Gilbert Bernard Osenburg Jr., who ran the Harford Beverage Co. and Racers’ Cafe in Parkville, died of ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease April 28 at Gilchrist Care Towson. He was 82 and lived in Towson and Owings Mills.

Born in Baltimore and raised on Naturo Road in Baynesville, he was the son of Gilbert B. Osenburg Sr., who also owned Harford Beverage, and his wife, Margaret Hickey, a homemaker. He attended Immaculate Conception School, Dumbarton Middle School, Towson High School and the University of Baltimore. He served in the Marine Corps at Camp Lejeune and Parris Island, South Carolina.

He initially sold tires and wheel assemblies for Goodyear and the old Schenuit Tire and Rubber Co. He took over operating the Harford Beverage Company and Racers’ Cafe on Harford Road in Parkville after his father died. He ran the businesses with his brother, Richard.

“My father was a pioneer in Maryland’s craft beer scene. He was instrumental in introducing West Coast-style craft beers to the Baltimore area in the early 1990s and advocated for alcohol percentages to be displayed on beer cans to educate and protect consumers,” said his son, Kyle S. Osenburg.

Mr. Osenburg, who kept up with changing beer tastes, led his firm to become a dominant keg beer retailer. He sold to individuals and held Preakness parties, his son said.

His tavern, Racers’, became a destination for craft beer enthusiasts.

“The tavern became a destination tavern in the early days of the internet,” his son said. “It was a bar that had 20-plus beers on tap.”

Mr. Osenburg left his retirement to work in facilities management at Oak Crest Senior Living. He helped seniors adjust to living in the community and often did repairs to their walkers — and listened to their stories.

He was a past president of the Parkville Business Association and headed the Maryland Licensed Beverage Association. He was also a past president of the Boys’ Latin School Parents Association.

He was a long-time blood platelet donor at the Johns Hopkins hemapheresis program.

Mr. Osenburg’s hobby was motorsports. He drove custom-built, open-wheel cars and competed in races in Formula 440 and 500 events. He was also an instructor at the Summit Point Driving School in Summit Point, West Virginia.

“My father was well known for his disarming personality, sharp sense of humor, and unwavering dedication to his family,” said his son, Kyle.

A life celebration will be held at 11 a.m. June 21 at the Church of the Nativity and Holy Comforter, 6112 York Road in Baltimore.

Survivors include a daughter, Kristin A. Kosmides, of Towson; two sons, Neale W. Osenburg, of Baltimore, and Kyle S. Osenburg, of Towson; a sister, Anne Osenburg, of Perry Hall; a brother, Richard Osenburg, of Perry Hall; his former wife, Kim Roche of Chestertown; a companion, Debbie Walk, of Owings Mills; two close family friends, Patricia and Maura Tull, of Baltimore; and three grandsons. His first wife, Pamela G. Chelf Osenburg died in 1975.

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