IN MEMORIAM: Nick Barberio, 93;

Taught Education At SUNY Oneonta

ONEONTA – (Nick) Barberio, 93, who taught in SUNY Oneonta’s Education Department for 30 years, passed away peacefully on Oct. 22, 2018 at the Fox Nursing Home.

Nick was born on May 15, 1925 in Mohawk, the son of Carlo (“Charlie”) and Maria Barberio. As the first-generation son of an Italian immigrant family, Nick’s life was the embodiment of the American dream.

In 1943, he joined the Navy and saw combat aboard the U.S.S. Vincennes in the liberation of the Philippines, among other significant actions during WWII.

Once stateside after the war, Nick was briefly the owner and operator of the Victory Diner in Ilion, before going back to school to pursue a career in teaching.

He earned a bachelor’s degree from Potsdam State Teacher’s College and then his master’s degree in education from St. Lawrence University. While taking part in the fieldwork for his teaching certification, Nick met the love of his life, Mildred (Millie) Katherine Clark.

Nick and Millie married in Utica on Aug. 23, 1952. They began their married life in Potsdam, making many lifelong friends there, before moving to start careers with SUNY Oneonta. Nick was a member of the College’s Education Department for over 30 years, helping to train scores of new teachers.

He was active on campus, and enjoyed working with numerous committees and taking part in the community life of the college.

When he and Millie retired in the early 1990s, they spent their retirement as “snowbirds,” traveling between Oneonta and their second home in Arizona for over 20 years. They also continued their love of world travel that had begun with sabbatical trips to vacation and teach in Italy and other European nations in the early 1970s by visiting Russia, Turkey, Greece, Canada and a number of other countries in their retirement years. Their trips were always made more enjoyable by the camaraderie of good friends as traveling companions.

Nick was an avid photographer and incorporated his love of photography into his avocation as a teacher; part of his duties as a professor included running the photography lab and training students to use photography as a creative tool for teaching.

He loved to cook and to share with others the authentic Italian dishes that he had enjoyed at his parent’s table, as well as those he and Millie discovered on their travels to Italy and other lands. His “gourmet club” featured the rotating culinary efforts of his friends along with many laughs and good times. Nick greatly enjoyed the friendships that he made throughout the years.

He hosted many poker nights and, with Millie, dinner parties at their home. Golf was one of his favorite pastimes and he spent many hours on the links at the Oneonta Country Club and in Arizona enjoying the company of old and new friends.

He also stayed connected to his shipmates from his Navy service during WWII through his ship’s crew association and attended several of their reunions.

Nick was active in the Oneonta community and held memberships with the Elks Club and other organizations, contributing to the town’s civic life in a number of ways, including coaching for the Wilber Bank Little League team.

Nick was predeceased by his parents, his sister, Teresa Nicotera, and his wife of nearly 64 years, Millie, who passed away in August of 2016. He is survived by four sons, Peter (Sherry) of Oneonta, Michael (Kirsten) of Scottsdale, Ariz., Stephen (Julie) of Apex, North Carolina, and Richard (Christine) of Oneonta. He is also survived by five grandchildren: Corey, Ryan, Kelsey, Marilena, and Eva.

Family and friends are invited to call from 5:00-7:00 PM on Friday, October 26 at the Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home, 14 Grand Street, Oneonta. A funeral mass will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, October 27 at St. Mary’s Church, 39 Walnut Street, Oneonta. Burial will follow in the Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Emmons.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Nick’s name to the College at Oneonta Foundation, 308 Netzer Administration Building, SUNY Oneonta, Oneonta, NY 13820. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.grummonsfuneralhome.com Arrangements are by the Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home, Oneonta.