Barbara Davitt Celebrates 58 Years at WATR 1320AM

Waterbury - On Monday, Nov. 22, the venerable Barbara Davitt marked her 58th anniversary of working at 1320AM WATR. The veteran broadcaster is rarely in town when Nov. 22 rolls around, but this year she came to the station as she does most weekdays to be on the air for her daily “Coffee Break” program. After her first segment, her coworkers surprised her in the studio for a celebration of another remarkable anniversary.

WATR News Director Christopher Fortier organized the gathering that brought Davitt to tears.

As seen in the photo above, Monroe Webster, administrative aide to Waterbury Mayor Neil O'Leary, presented Barbara with a citation from the city.

Prospect Mayor Robert Chatfield (above) came to honor the Prospect resident with some kind words. Chatfield had named Davitt Prospect Italian Mayor of the day in March of 2020, since her mother and grandmother were of Italian lineage.

Also in attendance at the celebration were the now retired Paula Griffin, Paul and Patty Spillane (seen above at the microphone) who are dear friends of Davitt, and WATR personalities Tom Chute, Robert Sagendorf, Steve Noxon, Fortier and “Johnny K.”

On Davitt's first day on air at the Waterbury station, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. She began her career there by mailing out gifts, moved up to being a "weather girl" and today hosts her half-hour program at 9:30 am on weekdays.

“Babs Davenport,” as Chute (seen above) often refers to her, is a gracious host that discusses a variety of topics on “Coffee Break,” which she broadcasts on Monday through Thursday mornings.

At the beginning of the pandemic, Davitt called into the station from her home in Prospect so that her show could go on. Chute dubbed it “Coffee Break Light.” She was her usual cheery and wise self as she spoke with the station manager on the air. Davitt has often been known in the past to call into the station to make a point during Chute's morning drive-time program.