Michael A. Loya

Michael A. Loya, 89, husband of the late Veronica (Falls) Loya, of 33 Lincoln Avenue, Danbury, died at the Pope John Paul II Health Care Center on January 8.

He was the father of Nancy V. Reidy of Newtown.

He was born in Vanderbilt, Penn., March 11, 1910, son of the late Michael A. and Mary (Kovach) Loya. He came to Danbury as a young man and had been a Danbury resident since. During WWII, Mr Loya worked as a machinist at the Bullard Company in Bridgeport. Following the war he worked as a hatter and became the superintendent of the former Mallory Hat Company in Danbury and later the Danbury Hat Company. He retired in 1976.

He was a member of St Gregory the Great Church, and formerly had been a third degree member of the McGivney Council of the Knights of Columbus. As a young man, Mr Loya had played football for the Danbury Trojans and later coached the Top Hat “Bull Dogs” football team. He was a member of the Danbury Old Timers Association and was honored by that organization in 1992.

Mr Loya is also survived by three other daughters, Dorothy V. Kroha, Barbara Dominakus and Patricia H. Murphy of Danbury; five brothers: John Loya and George Loya of Danbury, Joseph Loya and Andrew Loya of Bethel and Stephen Loya of New Fairfield; two sisters: Mary Kaiser of New Milford and Irene Melycher of Florida; 10 grandchildren: David Kroha, Ronald Kroha, Michael Kroha, Cynthia McArthur, Barbara Braatz, Thomas Dominakus, William D. Murphy, Jr, Patricia Kelley Murphy, Bernard Reidy, Jr, and Andrew Reidy; seven great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St Gregory the Great Church on January 11. Burial followed in St Peter Cemetery.

Contributions in his memory may be made to Pope John Paul Health Care Center, 33 Lincoln Avenue, Danbury, CT 06810.

The Newtown Bee         January 14, 2000