Andrew Jacob LaBarbera (A.J.), 83, passed away peacefully on March 26, 2016 in Orange Park, Florida. He was born January 21, 1933, in West Allis, Wisconsin, to the late Thomas and Rosa (San Filippo) LaBarbera.
A.J. graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a Bachelor's degree in Art Education and received a Masters of Art Education degree from Northern Iowa University.
He served three years in the U. S. Army. He taught watercolor painting, drawing, jewelry, and sign painting classes for 27 years at Marinette High School in Marinette, Wisconsin, where he was the head of the Art Department. While at Marinette High, he coached the girls' basketball team and took them to several Bay Conference titles, and a State tournament appearance. He also coached the girl's golf team for two years and the boy's golf team for 25 years taking the team to numerous Bay Conference, regional, and sectional titles and several appearances by the team and individuals at the state tournament. A.J. introduced the game of golf to many young men and women and taught them to love the sport. Many of his players played in college and many of their children played high school and college golf as well, including his three granddaughters and grandson.
His passion for the game made a tremendous impact on many people. A.J. also enjoyed his days as a referee for boys' basketball.
He was inducted into the Wisconsin Golf Coaches Hall of Fame in 1993. Andy retired from teaching and coaching in 1988 to pursue his dream of competing on the PGA Senior Golf Tour.
He relocated during the winter months to Jacksonville, Florida, and was a golf ranger at Timaquana and Orange Park Country Clubs. He became a member of Eagle Harbor Golf Club and became well known there as a teacher and coach. He was asked to coach the boy's golf team at The Bolles School in Jacksonville and coached them for two years. His love of teaching and coaching was always prominent to all who knew him.
A.J. won many golf tournaments over the years and shot his age or better 597 times. Some of his proudest moments were when he won tournaments paired with his two sons and each of his three granddaughters. Andy was a very talented artist and while working on his Masters, many of his jewelry pieces were showcased in a national jewelry book. He was an accomplished water color painter and sold paintings in art galleries, but he loved to give paintings and his one-of-kind caricatures to friends and family on special occasions. His knack for getting someone's looks and personality in a caricature was amazing! His art work is displayed in many homes in WI, FL and TX.
A.J. was preceded in death by his parents, Rosa and Thomas LaBarbera, seven brothers and two sisters and his first wife, Nan (Jonas) LaBarbera.
A.J. is survived by his wife of 21 years, Betty; sons, Drew LaBarbera (Leda) of McKinney, TX; Ross LaBarbera (Ellen) of Allen, TX, and grandchildren, Casey (Kyle) Messer, Jessa, Jordy and Lucas LaBarbera, three stepsons and five step-grandchildren.
A Celebration of his life will be held at Riverside Golf Club, Menominee, MI on Saturday, April 23rd from 3-6pm. A time of Shared Memories will begin at 5:30pm, everyone is encouraged to share a story. The evening will conclude with a group golf shot in Andy's honor. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to www.gofundme.com/ajlabarbera benefitting junior golf in Marinette, WI.
©Thielen Funeral Home Notice
Published Marinette EagleHerald,
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A.J. graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a Bachelor's degree in Art Education and received a Masters of Art Education degree from Northern Iowa University.
He served three years in the U. S. Army. He taught watercolor painting, drawing, jewelry, and sign painting classes for 27 years at Marinette High School in Marinette, Wisconsin, where he was the head of the Art Department. While at Marinette High, he coached the girls' basketball team and took them to several Bay Conference titles, and a State tournament appearance. He also coached the girl's golf team for two years and the boy's golf team for 25 years taking the team to numerous Bay Conference, regional, and sectional titles and several appearances by the team and individuals at the state tournament. A.J. introduced the game of golf to many young men and women and taught them to love the sport. Many of his players played in college and many of their children played high school and college golf as well, including his three granddaughters and grandson.
His passion for the game made a tremendous impact on many people. A.J. also enjoyed his days as a referee for boys' basketball.
He was inducted into the Wisconsin Golf Coaches Hall of Fame in 1993. Andy retired from teaching and coaching in 1988 to pursue his dream of competing on the PGA Senior Golf Tour.
He relocated during the winter months to Jacksonville, Florida, and was a golf ranger at Timaquana and Orange Park Country Clubs. He became a member of Eagle Harbor Golf Club and became well known there as a teacher and coach. He was asked to coach the boy's golf team at The Bolles School in Jacksonville and coached them for two years. His love of teaching and coaching was always prominent to all who knew him.
A.J. won many golf tournaments over the years and shot his age or better 597 times. Some of his proudest moments were when he won tournaments paired with his two sons and each of his three granddaughters. Andy was a very talented artist and while working on his Masters, many of his jewelry pieces were showcased in a national jewelry book. He was an accomplished water color painter and sold paintings in art galleries, but he loved to give paintings and his one-of-kind caricatures to friends and family on special occasions. His knack for getting someone's looks and personality in a caricature was amazing! His art work is displayed in many homes in WI, FL and TX.
A.J. was preceded in death by his parents, Rosa and Thomas LaBarbera, seven brothers and two sisters and his first wife, Nan (Jonas) LaBarbera.
A.J. is survived by his wife of 21 years, Betty; sons, Drew LaBarbera (Leda) of McKinney, TX; Ross LaBarbera (Ellen) of Allen, TX, and grandchildren, Casey (Kyle) Messer, Jessa, Jordy and Lucas LaBarbera, three stepsons and five step-grandchildren.
A Celebration of his life will be held at Riverside Golf Club, Menominee, MI on Saturday, April 23rd from 3-6pm. A time of Shared Memories will begin at 5:30pm, everyone is encouraged to share a story. The evening will conclude with a group golf shot in Andy's honor. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to www.gofundme.com/ajlabarbera benefitting junior golf in Marinette, WI.
©Thielen Funeral Home Notice
Published Marinette EagleHerald,
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Andrew Jacob LaBarbera (A.J.), 83, passed away peacefully on March 26, 2016 in Orange Park, Florida. He was born January 21, 1933, in West Allis, Wisconsin, to the late Thomas and Rosa (San Filippo) LaBarbera.
A.J. graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a Bachelor's degree in Art Education and received a Masters of Art Education degree from Northern Iowa University.
He served three years in the U. S. Army. He taught watercolor painting, drawing, jewelry, and sign painting classes for 27 years at Marinette High School in Marinette, Wisconsin, where he was the head of the Art Department. While at Marinette High, he coached the girls' basketball team and took them to several Bay Conference titles, and a State tournament appearance. He also coached the girl's golf team for two years and the boy's golf team for 25 years taking the team to numerous Bay Conference, regional, and sectional titles and several appearances by the team and individuals at the state tournament. A.J. introduced the game of golf to many young men and women and taught them to love the sport. Many of his players played in college and many of their children played high school and college golf as well, including his three granddaughters and grandson.
His passion for the game made a tremendous impact on many people. A.J. also enjoyed his days as a referee for boys' basketball.
He was inducted into the Wisconsin Golf Coaches Hall of Fame in 1993. Andy retired from teaching and coaching in 1988 to pursue his dream of competing on the PGA Senior Golf Tour.
He relocated during the winter months to Jacksonville, Florida, and was a golf ranger at Timaquana and Orange Park Country Clubs. He became a member of Eagle Harbor Golf Club and became well known there as a teacher and coach. He was asked to coach the boy's golf team at The Bolles School in Jacksonville and coached them for two years. His love of teaching and coaching was always prominent to all who knew him.
A.J. won many golf tournaments over the years and shot his age or better 597 times. Some of his proudest moments were when he won tournaments paired with his two sons and each of his three granddaughters. Andy was a very talented artist and while working on his Masters, many of his jewelry pieces were showcased in a national jewelry book. He was an accomplished water color painter and sold paintings in art galleries, but he loved to give paintings and his one-of-kind caricatures to friends and family on special occasions. His knack for getting someone's looks and personality in a caricature was amazing! His art work is displayed in many homes in WI, FL and TX.
A.J. was preceded in death by his parents, Rosa and Thomas LaBarbera, seven brothers and two sisters and his first wife, Nan (Jonas) LaBarbera.
A.J. is survived by his wife of 21 years, Betty; sons, Drew LaBarbera (Leda) of McKinney, TX; Ross LaBarbera (Ellen) of Allen, TX, and grandchildren, Casey (Kyle) Messer, Jessa, Jordy and Lucas LaBarbera, three stepsons and five step-grandchildren.
A Celebration of his life will be held at Riverside Golf Club, Menominee, MI on Saturday, April 23rd from 3-6pm. A time of Shared Memories will begin at 5:30pm, everyone is encouraged to share a story. The evening will conclude with a group golf shot in Andy's honor. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to www.gofundme.com/ajlabarbera benefitting junior golf in Marinette, WI.
©Thielen Funeral Home Notice
Published Marinette EagleHerald,
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A.J. graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a Bachelor's degree in Art Education and received a Masters of Art Education degree from Northern Iowa University.
He served three years in the U. S. Army. He taught watercolor painting, drawing, jewelry, and sign painting classes for 27 years at Marinette High School in Marinette, Wisconsin, where he was the head of the Art Department. While at Marinette High, he coached the girls' basketball team and took them to several Bay Conference titles, and a State tournament appearance. He also coached the girl's golf team for two years and the boy's golf team for 25 years taking the team to numerous Bay Conference, regional, and sectional titles and several appearances by the team and individuals at the state tournament. A.J. introduced the game of golf to many young men and women and taught them to love the sport. Many of his players played in college and many of their children played high school and college golf as well, including his three granddaughters and grandson.
His passion for the game made a tremendous impact on many people. A.J. also enjoyed his days as a referee for boys' basketball.
He was inducted into the Wisconsin Golf Coaches Hall of Fame in 1993. Andy retired from teaching and coaching in 1988 to pursue his dream of competing on the PGA Senior Golf Tour.
He relocated during the winter months to Jacksonville, Florida, and was a golf ranger at Timaquana and Orange Park Country Clubs. He became a member of Eagle Harbor Golf Club and became well known there as a teacher and coach. He was asked to coach the boy's golf team at The Bolles School in Jacksonville and coached them for two years. His love of teaching and coaching was always prominent to all who knew him.
A.J. won many golf tournaments over the years and shot his age or better 597 times. Some of his proudest moments were when he won tournaments paired with his two sons and each of his three granddaughters. Andy was a very talented artist and while working on his Masters, many of his jewelry pieces were showcased in a national jewelry book. He was an accomplished water color painter and sold paintings in art galleries, but he loved to give paintings and his one-of-kind caricatures to friends and family on special occasions. His knack for getting someone's looks and personality in a caricature was amazing! His art work is displayed in many homes in WI, FL and TX.
A.J. was preceded in death by his parents, Rosa and Thomas LaBarbera, seven brothers and two sisters and his first wife, Nan (Jonas) LaBarbera.
A.J. is survived by his wife of 21 years, Betty; sons, Drew LaBarbera (Leda) of McKinney, TX; Ross LaBarbera (Ellen) of Allen, TX, and grandchildren, Casey (Kyle) Messer, Jessa, Jordy and Lucas LaBarbera, three stepsons and five step-grandchildren.
A Celebration of his life will be held at Riverside Golf Club, Menominee, MI on Saturday, April 23rd from 3-6pm. A time of Shared Memories will begin at 5:30pm, everyone is encouraged to share a story. The evening will conclude with a group golf shot in Andy's honor. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to www.gofundme.com/ajlabarbera benefitting junior golf in Marinette, WI.
©Thielen Funeral Home Notice
Published Marinette EagleHerald,
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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