September 18th, 1936 — December 8, 2022

Giovanni Salvatore Antonino LaFata passed away December 8, 2022, at home with his wife beside him, he was 86 years old.

Born September 18, 1936, in Palermo, Italy to Vito and Philippa (Biondo) LaFata. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Frank LaFata, and Vito LaFata; sister, Angelina LaFata; and daughter, Denise Bess of Cuba, Missouri.

John is survived by his wife, Nancy and three children: Luke (Nicole) LaFata, Loren LaFata, Lacy (Shawn) Hoang. Also survived by son-in-law Randy (Denise) Bess and grandchildren: Reese LaFata, twins: Weston and Grayson Hoang, Nick Ryan, and Ben Farris and great-grandchildren. Two nieces: Anna and Diana; 4 nephews: Paul, Vito, Giovanni, and Marko; two sisters-in-law: Gisella LaFata and Katerina Maltase.

He and his father arrived in St. Louis in 1956 sponsored by John’s namesake, Uncle John LaFata, who lived in St. Louis, Missouri. His mother, two brothers and sister followed from Italy thereafter. John became a citizen of the United States in 1963.

John was united in marriage to Nancy Krueger LaFata on May 25, 1980, in Fenton, Missouri.

John became a Master Tailor after learning the trade from age 11 on, in his hometown of Cinisi, suburb of Palermo, Sicily. He ran his own business, LaFata Custom Tailors, for over 40 years as well as working for other men’s clothiers. He was a proud Dad and Nonno and kept their photos in front of him as he worked his magic on fabric all day, during his more than 70 years as a Master Tailor. 

John was a man of many talents and explored them all after coming to America. He loved to bowl and almost went pro at one time. He graduated beauty college and became a beautician for a short time. John enjoyed the restaurant business and loved throwing dough into the air in the 60’s at his brothers’ Pino’s Pizza in Gas Light Square, formerly behind the Fox Theater. 

John loved cars and traded almost every year, the last car he called the ‘yellow bird’, a 2002 Trans Am WS6, the last year they made them, and never traded again. He loved German Shepherds and bred, trained, and showed many through the years and even judged a few shows. He served on the GSDC (German Shepard Dog Club) of St Louis as President and as a Board member for many years. As a member of the GSDC of America for over 60 years John was made an honorary lifetime member. John was also an avid gardener with a huge vegetable garden and flowers everywhere!

His favorite vacation was the annual Sanibel Island family trip, for some 38 years. He loved family time, the beach, the ocean, eating any kind of fish and fishing, fishing, fishing. John’s family will take his ashes to Sanibel at a later date.