David Favreault

David Favreault, Sr. (1941-2025)

David Favreault Sr., formerly of Worcester and Sterling Massachusetts, died surrounded by his loving family in Eugene, Oregon on March 23, 2025 after a long illness.

Born in Worcester, Massachusetts, the second son to Charles Sr. and Helen (Sullivan) Favreault, David grew up in the neighborhoods around Webster Square. His early life was influenced by the people and places of the neighborhoods between Main South, The Plaza and the airport. In his childhood home, his parents made space for all who needed to be there through good times and challenges. A graduate of South High School, David attended the Mass College of Pharmacy, and served honorably in the United States Navy - serving on the USS Essex and USS Newport News which brought him to world ports (seeing the Beatles perform in Germany), the Cuban Missile Crisis and time serving as a Corpsman and medic at Bar Harbor, Maine.

In 1964, he married the love of his life, Linda (Rutkiewicz), and they spent the next 60 years together, raising their five children, four grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.

He was a good man. He lived a good life.

In 1969, David and Linda made an enormously consequential decision to raise their young family outside of Worcester, when they purchased their first home in Sterling. They would live in the town for the next 35 years, first on Walnut Dr., then as one of the first to build on Tanglewood Rd. and finally on Holden Rd.. He will always be one of the greatest batting practice pitchers in the history of George P. Gibbs Little League, where he coached all of his sons on the 76ers.

Along the way he taught his children and their friends the importance of a strong work ethic (a proud Teamster and Union Labor supporter); to love and respect nature; loyalty to one another and that laughter was always the best medicine. Under his wise guidance, his children learned how to read the Racing Form (the Triple Crown races were family holidays each year), how to correctly pronounce quahog, and how to sing doo-wop in 5 part harmony. He was an avid music lover, and archivist - his collections of 45rpm singles, LPs, cassettes and CDs spanned decades of doo-wop, rhythm & blues and rock & roll, were the stuff of legends. From Gene Vincent to Chuck Berry - from the Beatles and Stones, to the Grateful Dead and Allman Brothers - from the Weavers and Woody Guthrie to David Grisman; He was playing air drums and toe tapping to the music into his final hours.

He loved spending time outdoors and shared a love of nature with his children. Summer vacations in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, where he would hike with his family, summiting many of the range's 4000-footers, was one of his truest passions in life. As his children grew into adulthood and David retired, he would enjoy spending time with his friends walking along the trails in the Wachusett Greenway and Central Mass Rail Trail. He loved spending time near the water, from Cape Cod to Depoe Bay, and enjoyed watching whales on both coasts.

He was always an avid and ardent fan of Boston sports. He attended his first game at Fenway Park in August of 1950, launching the start of a commitment to Talmudic study of the daily box scores. He celebrated heartily every championship his teams would accumulate over the years - 2004 with the Pats and Red Sox was particularly satisfying - and for good measure, he was once carded for a Sharps at the Garden. He was always generous through his life in offering spot-on commentary on the current state and makeup of the Sox, Celts and Pats and was never shy grousing about the incompetence of certain refs, the piss poor judgement of Don Zimmer in 1975, and Grady Little in 2003. And though he never liked soccer, he did enjoy watching a few bicycle kicks while continuing to say the game was boring. When he and Linda moved to Oregon, he became a true green and gold Duck.

Some of his favorite simple pleasures were a bowl of fresh strawberries, a blueberry coffee cake (with blueberries from his humble garden), a rhubarb pie… always with a cup of black tea.

Laughing with his grandchildren brought him perhaps his greatest joy. Taking them to parks, to see whales along the Oregon Coast, to see Multnomah Falls and Herman the Sturgeon, or simply out to breakfast were special times he cherished.

His legacy and love is carried forth by his devoted wife Linda, daughters Michelle (Oswald Castillo) and Melissa, sons David Jr. (Dawn Forrester), Michael and Matthew (Rina). Grandchildren Chloe, Danielle (Daniel Cohen Ambalo), Jacob and Misha and his great-grandchildren Nave and Emma; his sister Barbara, brother Edward; a circle of nieces, nephews and extended family, and friends (who are family) will remember his hospitality, humor and dance moves. He was predeceased by his brother Charles and his wife Loraine, his sister in-law Hope, his nephew Brian, niece Charlene and his best friend Reginal Roy Parse.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks friends and acquaintances to consider a gift to their favorite charity, or “in memory of,” to the Wachusett Greenways, PO Box 121, Holden, MA 01520.

The family would like to express heartfelt gratitude to the staff and caregivers at Pete Moore Hospice House, at Sacred Heart Riverbend and Green Valley Rehabilitation Health Center