He attended Boston College High in Boston and Browne and Nichols Prep School in Cambridge before attending Bates College in Lewiston, where he met the love of his life, Elizabeth O’Donnell Barbera. They married in 1956, a year after his graduation in 1955. He played football at Bates, and the Bates College football games continued to be one of his favorite things to do in the fall with Betsy. Watching sports was Paul’s favorite thing to do – he kept track of the seasons through the sports he watched.
Paul spent four years in the U.S. Army at White Sands Proving Ground before he and “Bets” had five children – Paul W. Barbera, of Yarmouth; Gene Barbera (and wife Marta Barbera) of New Canaan CT.; Peter Barbera (and wife Margaret Barbera) of Yarmouth; Anne Barbera Day (and husband Richard Day) of Portland; and Timothy Barbera (and wife Alisa Barbera) of Melrose, MA. He loved his boys and his “special girl,” Annie. The family spent the summers on Higgins Beach, where Paul body surfed in the coldest temperatures and played horseshoes with the kids.
Paul earned his CLU from New England Life Insurance Co., and later opened his own business, Progress Sharing Co. He retired from Cross Insurance Co., after many years.
Paul was a family man and loved spending time with “Bets,” but most of all, his favorite thing to do was spend time with his grandchildren – Jack and his wife, Chantal; Gretchen, Emily, Julia, Alex, Ben, Olivia, Nicolas, and Francesca. He loved attending their sports games and they never failed to make him laugh his famous “big man” laugh.
He is predeceased by his sister, Margery Barbera Blackwood, of California. Paul is survived by his brother Kevin Barbera of Arlington, MA, and his cousin John Barbera from California.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated May 17, 2023 at 11:30 AM. Holy Martyrs Church, 266 Foreside Rd. Falmouth, Maine. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery 75 Smith Street Yarmouth, Maine.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.LindquistFuneralHome.com for the Barbera family.
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