Joseph Francis La Cava, Jr

‘The Best!’

Joseph “Joe” Francis La Cava, Jr, 72, of Newtown died July 27 at Danbury Hospital, after a brief but courageous battle with leukemia. Many of his old-time friends from Danbury knew him as “Bunny,” a nickname given to him at birth that stuck with him his entire life.

Mr La Cava was born January 29, 1937, the son of Josephine La Cava Decker and Joseph F. La Cava, Sr.

His childhood days were spent on Austin Street in Danbury along with his two sisters, Sharron and Lorraine. He attended St Peter’s School and Danbury High School, from which he graduated in 1955. While at St Peter’s, Mr La Cava was an altar boy serving daily Mass. He was active in football, basketball, and baseball as a young man and played all three sports at Danbury High School from 1951 to 1955. In the 1954-55 season, Mr La Cava was the captain of the football team, leading it to an undefeated and untied record under Coach Ed Crotty. The team was featured in the November 22, 1954, edition of Sports Illustrated. A natural athlete, he also captained the basketball and baseball teams and was inducted into the Old Timers Athletic Association of Greater Danbury in 1996.

After his school years, Mr La Cava enlisted in the United States Army and was stationed in postwar Germany.

He started his banking career with Union Savings Bank in 1960. In 1965 he went to work for Newtown Savings Bank and spent the next 30 years of his career making mortgages possible for many of today’s residents.

Mr La Cava was a loving husband of 49 years to Mary Ann (Young) La Cava, his loving, devoted wife. They began dating in high school and have been together ever since. He was an amazing father to four, and a loving, caring, devoted grandfather to his eight grandchildren. His favorite two weeks of the year were spent with his family at the New Jersey Shore.

 Mr La Cava had a love for all sports and golf was his favorite activity. He was a member at Newtown Country Club for the last 49 years and won many golf tournaments both there and throughout the area. A particularly memorable day was on the morning of his son’s wedding, when his friend Fred Couples, the PGA Tour Professional, played golf with him at Newtown Country Club. He was a lifetime fan of the Yankees, Giants, Rangers, and Knicks.

He was a well recognized coach around Newtown as his children were growing up, and was supportive of not only his own children, but of many children in Newtown, serving as a youth sports coach. All who knew him understood that he was most proud of his grandchildren.

He was known as “Papa” among his grandchildren’s sports teams. “Papa” was a consistent fixture at almost every sporting event that his grandchildren played. He was always cheering the kids on, was a source of inspiration, and offered many tips to help them improve. He attended his grandkids’ school functions, dance recitals, and any event where he could let the children know his love and support for them.

Besides his loving wife, Mr La Cava is survived by his children, Robin Kellogg and her husband, John, of Corinth, Texas, Jane Gallagher and her husband, Pete, of Bethel, Joe La Cava III, and his wife, Megan, of Southbury, and Shalor Tavino, and her husband, Ed, of Southbury; a sister, Lorraine Furino of Danbury; eight grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.

A devoted Catholic and Christian, Mr La Cava was a volunteer religious education teacher at St Rose Church.

He will be missed by the many people he touched throughout his lifetime. To know him is to remember him as caring, loving, giving, kind, gentle and strong.

Calling hours were scheduled at Green Funeral Home, 57 Main Street in Danbury, on Thursday, July 30, from 5 to 8 pm. Funeral services are scheduled for Friday, July 31, at 11 am, at St Stephen Church, 6948 Main Street (Route 25) in Trumbull. Burial will follow at St Peter’s Cemetery, Danbury.

Memorial contributions may be made to St Jude’s Children’s Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105.

The Newtown Bee        July 31, 2009