Obituary of James L. Festa

Festa, James L. age 88 of Weehawken at rest in Apalachin, NY on April 18, 2014. Beloved son of the late Charles and Margaret (nee Pacelli) Festa. Loving Brother of June Leonardi of Little Falls, Charles C. Festa, Jr. of Paterson, Robert P. Festa of Totowa, Peter Festa of Oakland and the late Nicholas Festa (2005), Ret. Col. Donald Festa (2010) - US Marines, and Rose DeLisi (2011). He is also survived by many nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews. Born in Paterson, he lived in Weehawken since 1952 before recently moving to Apalachin, NY. Mr. Festa graduated from Central High School, Paterson, NJ and received a BA degree and Masters from Columbia University in New York. From 1943 to 1946, he served in the United States Navy during WW II. From 1949-1968, he was the Social Director for Pococabana Lodge in the Poconos. Mr. Festa was then the Social Director for the Villa Roma Country Club, Callicoon, NY, from 1972-2002. He ran the "Jimmy Festa - Festa Italiano" weekend at Villa Roma for many years. From 2003-2004, he was the Social Director at Tamarack Lodge in NY. Also, from 1952 - 2002, Mr. Festa worked as a Dance Instructor for all schools for the Weehawken Recreation Department. Mr. Festa appeared in the Broadway productions of "Kiss Me, Kate" and "My Fair Lady". He was the Founder and Director of the Weehawken Adult Club from 1965 - 2000. He conceived, produced, and directed the "Via Dolorosa - A Visual Passion Play" in Nutley, NJ and Bayonne, NJ for over 20 years. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral from the Festa Memorial Funeral Home, 111 Union Blvd, Totowa, on Thursday at 9:15 AM. Funeral Mass to follow at St. Gerard RC Church, Paterson at 10:00 AM. Interment at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Totowa. Friends may visit Tuesday 7-9 PM and Wednesday 2-4 and 7-9 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations in James Festa's Memory to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675 would be appreciated. For more information, go to www.festamemorial.com.