Betty A. Nesta

Betty Malon Nesta

 “Dance is Education and Learning to Live with Others in Understanding”

WATERBURY – Betty Nesta, 83, loving wife, sister, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away Saturday, November 18, 2017 after a long illness surrounded by family.  She was predeceased by her husband, Robert “Lou” Nesta, of 47 years, who died in 2004.  Betty was born April 2, 1934, in New York, New York, daughter of the late Alexander and Florence (Oderowich) Malon.

    Betty attended Webster Grammar School and Leavenworth High School, and founded Betty Malon Studios of Dance, which she operated for 15 years.  Her 20-member “DANCETTES” were a highlight of the annual recitals “Let There Be Dance,” and were invited to accompany her to the world-renowned Dance Congress in New York City as demonstrators.

    Betty worked for several years at the former Greenshire School in the late 1960s, and conducted workshops supporting physical education and performing arts programs at a number of schools in the greater Waterbury area through the mid-1970’s.  In 1974, she joined the staff of Muriel Grossfeld’s School of Gymnastics as an instructor, and then became the head of the Waterbury YWCA gymnastics program, which she led for seven years.  Her YWCA teams of approximately 40 girls participated in both the United States Gymnastics Federation and the YWCA Division I League at the Class III, II, and I levels, winning multiple state championships and individual state and regional titles.   After resigning as head coach at the YWCA, Betty continued to instruct gymnastics there and also at the Waterbury Girls Club into retirement.  She gave her final ballet lesson to her granddaughter Josie, learning pointe, two weeks ago.

     Betty is survived by her sister Barbara Malon of Waterbury; her son Lex Nesta and daughter-in-law Laura Nesta of Waterbury; her daughter Lou Anne DeMattei and son-in-law Joseph DeMattei of Millersville, Maryland; and her youngest son Robert Nesta and daughter-in-law Lisa Nesta of Prospect.  She also leaves behind four grandchildren, Amanda, Alex, Josie, and Pete; one great-grandchild, Eva; and many nieces and nephews.  She was predeceased by her infant sons Jeffery and Louis.  She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

     The family would like to thank Dr. Arvind Suri, Dr. Paul Kelly, Ms. Alithea her caregiver, and the staff of the VITAS Unit at St. Mary’s Hospital for their untiring thoughtful and compassionate care.

     In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to VITAS-Inpatient Hospice Unit, Saint Mary’s Hospital, 56 Franklin St., 4th Floor, Waterbury, CT, 06756 or on-line at vitascommunityconnection.org/community-connection.

All services are private.  The Colasanto Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.  To leave on-line condolences, please visit us at www.colasantofh.com.

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