Joseph T. Barberie

Joseph 'Boots' Barberie, 89, of Alfred and a former longtime resident of Sanford, passed away on Thursday February 28, 2008 at the Kennebunk Nursing Home and Rehabillitation Center. Born in Windsor Locks, CT., on April 26, 1918, he was a son of John and Annie (Hauser) Barberie.Boots was well known in the Sanford community. He had served as president of the St. Ignatius P.T.A., president of the Sanford Chamber of Commerce and was President , Chairperson and treasurer of the United Way. He was also involved with the Boys Scouts Troop #327. He had also been a longtime member of an investment Club and a member of the Sanford Elk's Lodge. Prior to moving to Sanford Boots had been employed as a foreman for Lane Construction in Meriden, CT. He moved to Sanford in 1941 where he met his future wife, Ruth Thibodeau and they were married on May 31, 1943. He worked as a foreman for Gerard Genest Concrete Works. He later moved on to H.E. Carpenter Inc, where he worked closely with Hazen and Connie Carpenter until retiring in 1992.Joseph was a man with an inspiring zest for life. He was infectious, touching everyone he met with good humor, generosity and love. He found pleasure in daily life - a joy he never let go of. That quality was admired by everyone who ever had the distinct pleasure of meeting him. His appetitie for life was infectious and covered everything from food to cars to stars in the sky. He was an accomplished outdoorsman, who enjoyed flyfishing, hunting, and exploring the backwoods of Maine. He enjoyed travelling and went often to the West Coast, Europe, Florida, Alaska and Canada. He enjoyed photography and tinkering with electronics especially clocks. He read much and particularly enjoyed history, both local and world. He was an avid Red Sox fan and proud of the fact that he was alive for both of the World Series Championships. He remembers play for play a game his father took him to in 1934 and where he sat. There is not a soul who did not benefit from the positive manner in which Boots lived his life. He was a good friend, devoted and wonderful husband, fantastic father and inspirational and loving grandfather as well as a great man.He is predeceased by his wife, Ruth Barberie who passed away on February 7, 2003. He is also predeceased by one brother, Douglas Barberie and one sister, Doris Quagliaroli.He is survived by his children, Michael Barberie and his wife, Jill of Redding, CT, Joyce Bagshaw and her husband, David of Wells, Susan Richardson and her husband, Mark of Bellingham, WA, Janet Berger and her husband, Jay of Parsonsfield, and Kathleen Coffield of Gulf Breeze, FL, seven grandchildren, Sam and Juliette Barberie, Aaron Bagshaw and his wife, Adria, Carlin, Ryan and Rosa Berger, Jeremy Coffield, two great granchildren, Kyan and Maya Bagshaw.Visiting hours for Mr. Barberie will be on Sunday from 6 to 8pm at the Lafrance-Lambert & Black Funeral Home, 29 Winter Street in Sanford.A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday at 11am at St. Therse of Lisieux Parish-St. Ignatius Church in Sanford. Burial will be in the spring at St. Ignatius Cemtery in Sanford.To leave a message of condolence please use the "condolences" tab to the left.