Webster – Joseph Lada Jr., 91, passed away March 15, 2017. He was born on November 1, 1925 in North Grosvenordale CT, one of seven children born to Joseph Lada, Sr. and Veronica (Ambrosewicz) Lada. He lived most of his life in Webster.
Mr. Lada had a colorful childhood in a multicultural immigrant neighborhood. He swam and fished in local rivers and lakes, and played baseball and soccer at the public field adjacent to his house. At five years old he survived a runaway horse-drawn wagon when a bystander stopped the horses just before they reached an active railroad crossing. At twelve he and his friends were caught outdoors in the Hurricane of 1938, built a makeshift shelter and escaped unscathed. At thirteen he taught himself to play the trumpet, and by sixteen he was playing in well-known local big bands, led by Matty Mattison and Bob Poole, that toured throughout New England.
Mr. Lada was an Army veteran of World War II, serving as a combat engineer in the Philippines as part of the force being readied for the invasion of Japan. The invasion was scheduled to commence on his twentieth birthday but never occurred.
After the war, he returned to North Grosvenordale and found employment as a trumpeter in the studio orchestra of WTAG, a Worcester radio station. On weekends, he played at the popular State Line Casino with the Ray Stone Orchestra in Dudley. On one of those weekends in the fall of 1946 he met Rita Holewa of Webster and a year later they married. In September 2016, they celebrated their sixty-ninth wedding anniversary. With the demise of the big band era, he continued to perform with popular local Polish Polka bands, most recently the Emeralds. Between 1963 and 1968 he and his son Charles formed the trumpet section for the Chet K band and later the Cavaliers. Until he retired in 1999, Mr. Lada was employed at a number of local factories, most recently Cranston Print Works Company in Webster. Joe will be remembered for his kind and good-natured disposition, his unflappable manner and his mischievous sense of humor.
Besides his wife, Joe leaves four children: Charles J. Lada and his wife Stacey of Needham, Ann L. Lada of Webster, Joan E. Butterworth and her husband John Butterworth, Jr. of Auburn and Elizabeth L. Elston of Gainesville, FL as well 5 grandchildren: Margaret Lada and Navy LT Sam Lada, both of Washington D.C., Elizabeth Butterworth and John Butterworth III, both of New York, NY, Joseph Lada Elston of Gainesville FL, sister-in-law Theresa Lada of Webster, and many nieces and nephews.
Joe was predeceased by his son-in-law Richard Elston and sisters Helen, Hattie, Edna, and Theresa and brothers, Tony and Charlie, a marine who was killed in action in the Pacific theater during World War II.
Mr. Lada belonged to the Webster-Dudley American Legion Post #184 and was a lifelong member of the Worcester Musicians Association.
The family is planning a private burial service. Donations in his name may be made to Afternoon Tunes, which supports free music lessons for children. Checks can be made to All Saints Church (with the memo stating “Afternoon Tunes in memory of Joseph Lada, Jr.), 10 Irving Street, Worcester, MA 01609. Arrangements are under the direction of Scanlon Funeral Service, 38 East Main St., Webster.