FAVATA, THEODORE J.

LATHAM -- Theodore J. Favata, 66, died unexpectedly Saturday, August 23, 2003 at St. Mary's Hospital in Troy after being stricken at his residence. Mr. Favata was born in Troy on April 22, 1937, a son of the late Louis and Rebecca Terrible Favata. Raised and educated in Troy, he graduated from St. Francis deSales School and Troy High School. He was married on May 18, 1963 to his beloved wife, Connie Chainao Favata and they resided for the next seven years in Troy before moving to Latham. Mr. Favata was employed by the `Times Record` in Troy for 20 years as a pressman and, for the past 26 years, was employed by the State of New York, first with the Census Department and later with the Department of Taxation and Finance from where he retired last year. Mr. Favata will long be remembered by family and friends for his musical talent which was fostered, in his early years, at home where he played musical instruments and sang with his father and brothers. Later, he would graduate from the Troy Conservatory of Music where he would earn a degree in music and developed an appreciation for playing the piano and organ, a talent he shared with many through his playing with bands and through the teaching of piano and organ to many students. Mr. Favata also played the accordion and celeste. He, along with fellow musicians, Joe Piscitella, Phil Colisano and Jack Ayotte, formed the band, `The Nite-Lites` and played in night clubs and lounges throughout the Capital District and as far away as the Catskills, Vermont and Boston. Some of the local venues they played included the Jamaica Inn, Club 21, the Hendrick Hudson Hotel, the Crossroads Restaurant and the Marriott Hotel. Mr. Favata was honored to have been requested on several occasions to perform for former Governors Harriman and Rockefeller. He was a long-standing member of the local Musicians Unions in Albany, Troy and Schenectady and formerly had served as a union business agent. He was also a member of the Troy Vocal Society. Although his greatest loves were his family and music, he also included among his interests, horse racing, puzzles, bowling with his grandson, Kyle and fishing with his son, Dan. He was the beloved husband of 40 years to Connie Chainao Favata; loving father of Christine Dwyer of Albany, Daniel Favata of Latham and Shannon Favata of San Francisco, Calif.; cherished grandfather of Kyle Dwyer; devoted brother of Jerry Favata of Troy and the late Louis Rocco Favata Jr. and Nicholas Anthony Favata; dear son-in-law of Glenn G. Chainao of Menands and the late Monica Chainao. He is also survived by several dear aunts and cousins. Funeral from the Cummings Funeral Home, 643 Third Avenue, Watervliet on Friday morning at 10:30 and at 11 in St. Brigid's Church, Watervliet, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by the Reverend Joseph G. Busch, pastor. Interment in St. Agnes Cemetery, Cohoes. Family and friends are invited and may also call at the funeral home on Friday morning from 9:30 until 10:30 (prior to the service).