John Anthony Barbari Jr.

John Anthony Barbari
8-5-1941~12-22-2022

John Anthony Barbari Jr. was born on Tuesday, August 5 th , 1941. In Saint Paul Minnesota. His
parents were John A. Sr. and Dolly (Earl) Barbari he was the eldest of three sons his brothers
Jerry and Gary Barbari. He lived his childhood and teen years in the city of Saint Paul in an
Italian neighborhood where he learned to appreciate traditional Italian foods and became a
gourmet chief in his free time honoring his proud Italian heritage. He graduated from Monroe
High School in St Paul in 1958. After a brief serving in the US Army, he begins working for
Droney Beverage CO distributor of Miller Brewing Company in the 1960s. Later he worked as a
successful salesman for Curtis Industries.
In May of 1967 he adopted his son Jeffrey A. Barbari and in 1980 he met and married the love
of his life Rita (Barbacovi) Barbari and adopted her son Mark A. Barbari. Together they lived in
Duluth, MN until 1986 where they moved and lived for many years in warm and sunny Orlando,
Florida. John was an award-winning salesman for Curtis Industries and retired in 2003 at the
age of 62 and then enjoyed working as a bus driver for the Seminal CO School District until
2011. In 2013 John and Rita returned and lived in St Paul, MN and enjoyed many years entering
various 1st place prize and winning canning recipes, receiving many top honors at the Minnesota
State Fair.
He is survived by his wife Rita, his son Jeffrey and his wife Melissa Barbari, grandchildren
Sophia, Natalia, Zach, and Wolf and son Mark Allen Barbari and his wife Patricia Barbari and
sons Dr. Cody Barbari and Pedro. The date of his celebration of life will be announced soon.

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