Robert A Barbier

Robert “Buddy” Barbier passed away on October 20th at age of 91, in his home in Garfield; as he wished, with his children at his side, bringing his life to a complete circle. He was born to Marcel “Mac” and Agnes “Aggie” Barbier May18,1934 in a small apartment behind their candy store on Belmont Ave, Garfield. He was their second son, His older bother, Marcel “Montne” and younger brother, Lennie, both predeceased him. He spent his early years on Belmont and eventually began working with his family in their newly opened candy store, bar and bowling alley a few doors down from where he was born. He quickly learned how to perform all the responsibilities required to run the business from taking inventory, working the cash register, mixing drinks and setting the pins in the alleys.

It was at this same time he discovered his love for the outdoors. He began hunting and fishing with both his father and older customers from the tavern. Many of these people would become lifelong friends.

Buddy was drafted into the Army at age 18, and was eventually assigned to a transport unit in Germany, where he spent three years driving trucks throughout Europe. He often joked the Army liked him so much that after he was discharged, they decided to bring him back from the reserve. He spent the last year of his service driving trucks and training new recruits in Fort Dix, New Jersey. He said even then people couldn’t drive manual transmissions.

When he returned home from the army, he continued to work in the family business sometimes from opening at 8:00 AM until closing at 3:00 AM. Anyone who knew him would tell you he could work all day and night but fall asleep almost instantly. A running joke among his friend was on days they went hunting or fishing, he could be asleep before they left Garfield.

Somehow among long hours of work and equally long days of hunting and fishing, he was introduced to Dorothy “Dot” O’Neill at friend’s party. As the story goes, there was some matchmaking involved. After several dates at the Bendix Diner, their relationship progressed, they met each other’s parents (an interesting story for another time), and they married in November of 1963. Since it was hunting season, he did go rabbit hunting on one of the mornings of their honeymoon. This was proof enough that he did, in fact, marry the right woman for him.

Life went on and they were blessed with a daughter Marcy in November of 1964. There were probably some people who did the math really quick when they announced her pregnancy, but it all adds up. A son, Robert (But not a junior-different middle names) followed in December 1967. His family was rounded out with another daughter, Kathy in July of 1972.

Somewhere along the way he discovered gardening, an activity that would eventually rival both hunting and fishing in his life. His gardens grew every year until they became almost small farms. He was known for the quality of the vegetables and fruit he grew and his generosity in giving away the tremendous excess. From July to September his friends left his yard with baskets and bags of produce. His family also became quite accomplished at the canning process. The basement was always full garden goodness to be enjoyed all winter long.

He was also blessed with six grandchildren. His daughter Marcy and her husband, Joe Calabrese (pre-deceased) gave him Adele and Joseph. His son Rob and his wife Sue (Nee Jackovitz) brought Elizabeth and Rob (not a junior-different last name) into his life. His daughter Kathy (pre-deceased) and her partner Fess Logan (pre-deceased) provided Alexia and Trever. He loved and treasured them all.

In 1987 he achieved a lifelong goal and purchased 250 acres of land in upstate New York. The property was purchased with the intention of hunting with his family and friends as well as a place to relax and unwind. In reality, it was probably an opportunity to have a never-ending project between the property and the trailers. It was there that he officially became the King of the Weedwhackers. Probably one of the few people, other than a professional landscaper, to run multiple machines completely down including a commercial Stihl trimmer.

He was a man who put a great deal of value in working hard and was not afraid to lead by example. Twelve-hour days were the norm if you were on a project with him, sometimes without even stopping for lunch. Even in his later years, he out worked younger men just to show he could. For as much as valued hard work, he also stressed the value of an education. He funded the education of not only his own children who had no college loans, he also funded the education of his grandchildren and insisted on helping his daughter-in-law receive her master’s degree.

In the end, he managed to achieve what many dream of, a comfortable well-lived life not only for him, but his children and grandchildren as well.