John Robert Barbera, a 55-year resident of New Rochelle, passed away peacefully on July 21, 2023, after a prolonged illness. He was 93 and was a beloved husband, father and grandfather. Born on Edison Avenue in The Bronx, NY on January 12, 1930, John was the son of Albert and Louise (Albanesi) Barbera. He attended P.S. 71 in the Pelham Bay section of The Bronx and graduated from Cardinal Hayes High School in 1948. John graduated from Fordham University in 1952 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. He served in the United States Army in Ft. Sill, OK, Ft. Dix, NJ and in Korea from 1953 to 1955, where he was a candidate for Officer Training School. John was honorably discharged in 1955. John was a successful stockbroker and financial advisor in New York City for more than 50 years. He began his career with Household Finance in the 1950s and then was associated with Shearson Hammill, Shearson Hayden Stone, Shearson Loeb Rhodes, Shearson American Express, Shearson Lehman and lastly, Salomon Smith Barney. A member of the Shearson President’s Council from 1975 to 1995, John retired in 2004. In addition to the New York Athletic Club, John was a member of the Union Club in New York City where he was a champion billiards player. From 1984 to 1988, he was a member of the Father’s Council at Iona Preparatory School in New Rochelle, NY and was a 55-year parishioner of Holy Family Church in New Rochelle, NY.
He spent many summer vacations on Cape Cod in Chatham, MA with his family. John is survived by Evelyn (Bisulca), his wife of 65 years; his daughter Elizabeth Suchy and her husband, John of Wilton, CT; his son, Stephen and his wife, Whitney (Serrell) of Bedford, NY; his son, William and his wife, Natasha (McArthur) of Scarsdale, NY; and his daughter, Christine Cobuzzi and her husband, Anthony of New Rochelle, NY. John is also survived by seven grandchildren of whom he was most proud: Christine Suchy of Jersey City, NJ, Anne Barbera of NY, NY, William Suchy of NY, NY, Thomas Barbera of Bedford, NY, Nicholas Cobuzzi of New Rochelle, NY, Nathaniel Cobuzzi of New Rochelle, NY and Grace Barbera of Bedford, NY.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 9:30 am at Holy Family Church in New Rochelle, NY on Friday July 28, 2023, followed by inurnment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, NY. There will be no calling hours. The family will host a memorial service to celebrate John’s life for friends and family at a future date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in memory of John Barbera to Cardinal Hayes High School, 650 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10451, https://650cardinalhayes.org/.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Westchester Funeral Home in Eastchester, NY.