Francesco Barbaro

Francesco (Frank) Joseph Barbaro was born on December 18, 1927 in Brooklyn, New York to immigrant parents from Sicily and Calabria. He lived the majority of his life in Brooklyn, New York and the last ten years of his life in Watervliet, New York. He passed away peacefully, at age 88, on Sunday, September 4, 2016 with his loving family around him. Frank Barbaro was a Progressive Democrat, who dedicated his life to the progressive agenda, with the objective of making a material difference for the working class. His legacy of improved conditions for working people through success in electoral politics was achieved without compromising his values. He was elected to the New York State Assembly in 1972 and server the people of Bensonhurst/Gravesend within the 47th Assembly district in Brooklyn, NY for 24 years. He was the Chairman of the Labor Committee for many years. He served as a Justice of the New York State Supreme Court from 1996 until 2003. In 2004, Frank ran for the 11th Congressional seat in Brooklyn and Staten Island. This past year he was elected as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention representing Bernie Sanders. He loved his family and is survived by his beloved wife Mary Patricia (Borysewicz) Barbaro of Watervliet, New York, three daughters and four grandchildren: Gail Cosseboom, her husband Jeff Cosseboom and their daughters Lauren and Katherine of New City, NY; Jayne Shalhoub, her husband Raymond Shalhoub and their children Robert and Christina of Brooklyn, NY and Elizabeth Borysewicz of Watervliet, NY. He is also survived by one of his three sisters, Mary Vena of NJ. His sisters Francis Paoletti of PA and Concetta Monte of NY predecease him. Memorial contributions can be made in Frank Barbaro's honor to the Innocence Project.org and Mary's Kitchen through the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, 2416 7th Avenue, Watervliet, NY 12189.