My dear father-in-law, Angelo Barbaccia, has passed away.
I waited to post something until as many family and friends as possible could be notified, and so I could write an obituary attempting to describe his incredible life. I am heartbroken at this loss as is the rest of the family.
My father-in-law is the reason for my family's existence since he is who introduced me to my husband.
Anyone who knew him loved him. He was always the life of the party – telling jokes, being silly, and having a big, hearty laugh that couldn't help but make you smile.
He sometimes had a tough exterior, but he was just a big teddy bear inside. He loved his family and friends more than anything. Oh, but his grandchildren. They were his pride and joy.
I remember when my daughter brought her microphone with her on a trip to Arizona about four years ago. It was a gift from Santa that we thought might cause some regret -- or at least should have come with earplugs. Nonetheless, we allowed her to bring it with her on the trip.
As she cued it up to sing, Angelo broke out into full song with my little girl while the two of them sang "Dominic the Donkey" together.
Then there was the silly "claw game" he would play with his hands. I don't even know how to describe it, but it made all the kids around – grandchildren, nieces and nephews, neighbor kids, etc., squeal with delight.
I can't forget the limos, either. My father-in-law owned and ran a town car service for many years. He built up the business and it became quite successful. In fact, that is how I met him.
I used to take town cars to the airport for work when I would go on business trips. When I met Angelo for the first time, he gave me his business card and told me to give him a call anytime I needed a ride. If he wouldn't be able to take me, he would find someone who would. After knowing him for nearly four years, he introduced me to his son, Jack (that is another fun story), and two years later, Jack and I married and now have three beautiful children.
There are so many other stories to tell. I remember Angelo telling me stories of driving several famous people (I wish I had written down all the details). However, the story that still makes me laugh to this day is when he took a colleague/good friend and me to the airport, and we were kind of being smart @sses. We kept taunting him and jokingly inviting him to join us in Florida, where my friend and I were headed to cover a tradeshow.
As we arrived at the airport, not only were our suitcases removed and put on the curb but also his set of golf clubs. When we looked at Angelo, puzzled, he said with a completely straight face that he was joining us because we asked him to do so. My friend and I looked at each other, a bit panicked, and Angelo let out this humongous laugh and almost had tears in his eyes from laughing so hard. He picked up his golf clubs, placed them back in his trunk, and then said, "I got you girls!"
You could see the great love he had for his family. If you even were remotely connected to a family or friend, you were considered family. A friend of a friend could show up on Angelo’s doorstep (and could still do so now to my mother-in-law) and that person would be welcomed in, fed, and invited to stay and enjoy their company.
I am inspired when I think of how my father-in-law built himself into a successful man from the ground up. Angelo told me that when he immigrated from Sicily as a pre-teen, he and his family had almost nothing but they still made their way. He had such an interesting life working as a meat cutter, a ski instructor, dog breeder and trainer, and then started and ran his successful town car/limousine service for so long. His clients loved him. Everyone loved him.
He made everyone feel so special. I remember for both of my sons’ respective First Communions and my daughter’s baptism, he showed up with a stretch limousine for them. My kids felt like movie stars being driven around in a limo.
Even after he had sold his business and retired to Arizona, he still made sure that he was able to get a limo for my daughter since he had done so for my sons. He used his connections.
Although people joke about there always being a “guy who knows a guy,” this was so true of my father-in-law. He is the guy who always knew someone who could help you with what you needed or would be able to connect you with someone who knew someone Angelo had such a network of people who were happy to help him out when needed because you always knew he would do the same for you.
He was “old-school” Italian. He demanded respect and that his own kids showed respect growing up. However, he gave that same respect back to others. You could just see the pride in his eyes and hear it in his voice as his children, even as grown adults, his grandchildren – and even extended family – have accomplished things. Even if he didn’t verbalize it, you JUST KNEW.
Angelo, you will be missed so much on this earth. I hope you are up in Heaven, enjoying all the celestial golf courses, and hanging out with all the other family members who have left this world before us. We love you and miss you. Rest in peace. Requiescat in pace.
https://everloved.com/life-of…
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