OXFORD — Peter Michael Barbarito, 77, of Oxford, died unexpectedly Thursday, Oct. 26. He was the husband of Carol Lynne (Cieslewski) Barbarito.
Peter was born March 15, 1940 in New Haven, son of the late Anthony Mark and Bess (Deglinnocenti) Barbarito.
Peter was an outstanding football player at Notre Dame High School in West Haven, where he played running back and safety. He was the MVP of the Connecticut Coach’s
All Star Game in 1958.
He went to Santa Monica Junior College in California where his team won the National Junior College Championship. He then accepted a scholarship to UConn.
Peter worked for New Haven Public Schools for over 35 years. He began as a teacher and eventually became supervisor of physical education and athletics. He coached high school football for over 30 years. He began his coaching career as an assistant with stops at Xavier, Wilbur Cross, Naugatuck, and Hillhouse. He became head coach at Wilbur Cross High School in 1975 and guided the Governors to a state championship in 1984. He was the first coach to lead an inner city team to a state championship in the playoff era. He was inducted into the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2010.
Peter adored his wife Lynne. He spent his retirement years traveling the world with her. He recently took the whole family to Mexico to celebrate their 52nd wedding anniversary.
Peter was an avid golfer. He was a member of Hop Brook, Pequabuck, Country Club of Waterbury and Oxford Greens. His father-in-law, Henry Cieslewski, taught him the game as a young adult. He loved playing golf with his two sons and his brother-in-law, Paul Cieslewski, his best friend. He adored his grandchildren, Jillian and Mark Barbarito. He enjoyed watching Jill play basketball and Mark play hockey. He was also a model train enthusiast and an avid fan of UConn women’s basketball.
In addition to his wife he leaves son and daughter-in-law, James and Jennifer Barbarito of Prospect; son, Eric Barbarito of Naugatuck; sisters and brothers-in-law, Elizabeth and Frank Richo of Madison, Joan and Steve Carroll of Cheshire and Mary and Philip Golino of Sterling, Va.; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Paul and Mary Jo Cieslewski of Southbury; brother-in-law, Peter Cieslewski of Oceanside Calif.; grandchildren, Jillian and Mark Barbarito; and several nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday, Oct. 30 at 10 at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Oxford. Burial will follow in St. James Cemetery, Naugatuck. Friends are asked to meet directly at church.
Memorial contributions can be made to Notre Dame High School Endowment Fund, 1 Notre Dame Way, West Haven, CT 06516.
To send an online condolence, visit www.naugatuckvalleymemorial.com.
