GUS HAITA OBITUARY      1936 – 2023

Haita, Gus J.
CLIFTON PARK – Gus John Haita, 87, died peacefully on Tuesday, February 21, 2023, at Loving Home at Frederick’s in Glenville, after a long illness.
He was born in New York City on February 19, 1936, the son of the late John Haita and Helen (Angeloupolos) Haita. At the age of two, Gus moved to Watervliet where his parents operated the State Diner at 19th Street and 2nd Avenue. He recounted many stories of his parents giving him ice cream to eat during the World War II blackouts as well as “surfing with a pillow” on the diner floor that ended quickly due to breaking his finger. During the early 1980s, Gus reopened the diner introducing “The Philly Cheese Steak” to the Arsenal City.
Gus was a 1954 graduate of Watervliet High School where he was a multi-year letterman who played on championship teams in baseball, basketball and soccer and was a two-way starter in football his senior year.
He entered the U.S. Navy after graduation, traveling the Mediterranean while on board the USS Gearing; his perpetual joke was that even though he wore glasses and could not hear, he worked in the sonar/radar room and was the “eyes and ears” of the ship.
He then attended Orange County Community College on a soccer scholarship where he was a member of two national soccer championship teams in 1959 and 1960 and was also selected to the All-American soccer team both years, graduating in 1961. He later attended the University of Bridgeport where he was a soccer co-captain in his senior year when the team finished their season with a 10-1 record; he was also a member of the Alpha Gamma Phi fraternity and graduated in 1964 with a Bachelor of Science in education.
He went to work for the Troy School District as well as the Jewish Community Center in Troy, where he was the camp director for Camp Olam in Grafton.
From 1966 to 1968, he coached boys’ soccer at R.P.I., always giving sage advice such as “Don’t wait for the ball to come to you, go to the ball” and “Always run with people who are faster and better than you,” which really became life lessons for many family members and close friends.
He finally returned to his roots and began working for Watervliet High School as a physical education teacher. His students lovingly called him “Prof,” and he taught them not only how to play sports, but also disco and square dancing. He started the “Dixie Cup” intramural floor hockey tournament that became a huge success and is still often talked about amongst the alumni of that era. He also coached girls’ basketball, soccer, tennis, and softball, as well as boys’ soccer. During the 1982-83 season, the girls’ basketball team won the Colonial Council Championship with a 17-1 record. He finally retired in 1995 after 21 years of teaching.
In 2011, Gus was inducted into the Watervliet High School Athletic Hall of Fame. In his spare time, he was active in many fast-pitch softball leagues and teams playing third base and pitcher as well as taking cross-country road trips both by car and bicycle. He also worked part-time as a greeter at the Circle Diner in Latham.
He was the loving father of Vanessa Farley and Dean Haita; beloved grandfather of Amanda and Reagan Farley, Schyler Nash, Elijah and Samuel Haita; great-grandfather of Maci Nash and Thomas Nash; father-in-law of Christian Farley and Lori Haita; brother of Thelma Thomas (late); and uncle of Estelle Pippo (late), Elena, Elizabeth and Nicholas Thomas. He is also survived by many dear and beloved friends.
The family wishes to thank the staff at Loving Home at Frederick’s, his special friend Anton, Anita and Craig from HMABNY, and Brittany from Hospice.
Calling hours will be held on Friday, March 3, at the Parker Bros. Memorial, 2013 Broadway, Watervliet from 4-7 p.m. with the Trisagion memorial service to be held at 5:30 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 4, at 12 p.m. in St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church, 909 River Street, Troy. Interment will be held in the spring in St. Basil’s Cemetery, 86 Elm St., Maplewood.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church, 909 River St., Troy, NY, 12180 or at www.stbasiltroy.com/giving.
Condolence book at ParkerBrosMemorial.com.