Tom Angelo LaBarbera

1948 - 2024

Tom Angelo LaBarbera

November 12, 1948 - November 10, 2024

Modesto, California - Tom Angelo LaBarbera Jr. passed from this life to his eternal home on November 10, 2024 due to complications of CLL (leukemia). He entered the presence of his Savior surrounded by his immediate family and his brothers. It was a peaceful homegoing for the known family man.

Tom was born November 12, 1948 in San Jose, CA to parents Gaetano "Tom" Sr. and Dorothy LaBarbera. He was the oldest of three boys who were raised solely by their mother. Tom attended public schools in Modesto and San Francisco before eventually settling back in Modesto in 1962 and attending Davis High School. An avid sports fan, Tom was the team manager for football, baseball, and basketball all four years, and upon graduation in 1966, he received a lifetime sports pass to all Davis High School home games. After graduation, he went to work directly with Clyde Dunlap at Dunlap's Department Store, willingly handing over his paychecks to his Mom to help with the monthly bills.

Tom was invited to play sports at a local church, First Baptist (currently CrossPoint Community), which catapulted his love for sports, but also introduced him to Jesus Christ, whom he believed in and followed for the rest of his life.

In 1969, he was drafted into the Army. He attended basic training at Fort Lewis, Washington and then deployed to Vietnam in August 1969 in the 23rd Infantry Division. Tom was awarded the Army Commendation Medal in May of 1970 and the Bronze Star in July of 1970 for outstanding meritorious achievement in military operations. He was promoted to Sergeant and ended in the Calvary Division before he was discharged in April of 1971. He continued sending all of his paychecks home.

After his service, Tom went back to work at Dunlaps, eventually becoming the Assistant Manager until it closed. He also returned to the church he loved, and two months later, he walked into the college group and met a new girl in town, Dianne Friesen. He went home and told his Mom, "I just met a wonderful girl." They married at First Baptist Church on May 18, 1973, and went on to have three children, whom are his most cherished legacy.

In 1988, Tom went to work as a bookkeeper for KKI Corporation, where he stayed until his retirement in December 2021.

What made this man so heroic was in all the ways he served his family. He taught them to find meaning in the little things and to be grateful for what they had. He coached most of their youth sports teams, except for Sundays which were reserved for church. Tom read extensively and remembered almost everything he read. No one wanted to oppose him in Trivial Pursuit, crossword puzzles, or Jeopardy. A man of routine, Saturday mornings were washing cars and mowing the lawns, while Saturday nights were always pizza and movie rentals. On weekdays, he jogged the same two-mile route in the neighborhood after work. He played softball for over 50 years, eventually joining the Stanislaus Senior Softball Association, where he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014.

In August of 2014, Tom was diagnosed with CLL, a form of leukemia known to appear in veterans of the Vietnam Conflict. Meanwhile, back in 2008, First Baptist asked Tom if he would be interested in starting a Veteran's ministry, which he did with son Micky, and served on the leadership of that ministry up until he began to get sick in July of 2023, and eventually also diagnosed with skin cancer in November of 2023. He lived humbly, was bold in his faith, and uncompromising in his character.

Tom is survived by wife Dianne LaBarbera; his three children, Micky (Laura) LaBarbera, Tawny (Brad) Barbarick, and Mallory LaBarbera; his two brothers Rick LaBarbera, Steve (Debbie) LaBarbera; grandchildren Thomas and Maura LaBarbera, and Landon Barbarick; and bonus grandchildren Mikey Navarro, and Megan, Emily, and Zach Barbarick; along with many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. Tom is preceded in death by his mother, Dorothy LaBarbera, and grandson, Preston Barbarick.

Tom will be buried at the San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery in a private, family ceremony. A public memorial service will be held in early December; those who would like details, please email his daughter Mallory at mallory702@gmail.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to the Red Cross in Tom's honor, either with a financial gift or by donating blood.

Tom's favorite verse was "I can do all things through Him who gives me strength," Philippians 4:13. His desire was that all would be saved and come to know the Lord as he did.