Donald A. Lafave, 63
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Donald A. Lafave, 63, of Clearwater, Fla., formerly of Pittsfield, died Friday, June 29, 2001, of natural causes at Morton F. Plant Hospital in Clearwater.
Born in Williamstown on June 17, 1938, son of Anna Margaret LaChance Lafave of Williamstown and the late Peter Lafave, he was a graduate of the former Williamstown High School. He was a resident of Pittsfield from 1986 to 1995, when he retired to Florida.
He served in the Army in Germany during the Korean War.
A retired chef, Mr. Lafave was employed by the former Howard Johnson's in Williamstown before becoming a cook at the former Springs Restaurant in New Ashford for 16 years. He then moved to Eagle Nest, N.M., where he was executive chef at Angel Fire Country Club.
He also owned and was executive chef of a gourmet continental cuisine restaurant for four years called Papa's Place. He was a chef at the former North Adams Inn, Belden Tavern in Lee, the Lenox House in Lenox, and the Shaker Mill Tavern and Card Lake Restaurant and Country Inn, both in West Stockbridge.
He married the former Barbara Dobbert Freeman on Feb. 15, 1986.
Besides his wife and mother, he leaves a son, Toby Lafave of Los Lunas, N.M.; a daughter, Happy Wilkins of Reudoso, N.M.; a stepson, Chester Poulen of Readsboro, Vt.; seven stepdaughters, Barbara Milvae of Enfield, Conn., Sherry Sharpe of Johnsonville, N.Y., Colleen LaFrance of North Adams, Kimberly Freeman of Clearwater, Torri Wohlers of Westfield, Holly Poulen of North Adams and Shanda Lafave-Modena of Adams; three brothers, Arthur Lafave of Williamstown, David Lafave of Grafton, Vt., and Delphus Lafave of Deerfield; 26 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren.
FUNERAL NOTICE — A memorial service for Mr. Lafave will be held Saturday, July 14, at 9:30 a.m. at St. Raphael's Church in Williamstown. VETERANS CREMATION AND BURIAL SOCIETY in Clearwater, Fla., is in charge of arrangements.