Andrzej "Andy" Barabasz

Andrzej (Andy) Barabasz died on September 27, 2025 from complications of pulmonary fibrosis. He was born in Jaffa, Palestine (a British protectorate during World War II) to Wlodzimierz and Helena Barabasz, Polish refugees. The family moved to a displaced person's camp in Lancaster, England near the Welsh border. There, Andy attended an English school and played soccer. After the sudden death of her husband, Helena moved the family to Chicago where they had a sponsor, and then to Toledo, Ohio. Andy became a naturalized U.S. Citizen in 1962. He attended Macomber High School and the University of Toledo, where he trained as a mechanical engineer. Andy served in the U.S. Army Reserve. He worked for Johns-Manville Corporation (JM) for 20 years in a variety of positions. He met Christine Baehren in 1969 and they were married the same year. JM moved its corporate headquarters to Denver, CO. Andy and Chris moved there in 1972 and soon had three children.

Andy took a sales position with the company and the family moved to Berwyn, PA on the outskirts of Philadelphia. Despite a heavy business travel schedule, he found time to coach and referee soccer games and never missed baseball games, concerts and other events. Andy later worked for Specialty Glass Products and Spectrocell. Another move took them to Williamsburg, VA where he was Director of Sales for Opton, Inc. When the company folded, Andy's career took a different turn when he became a Wine Consultant for Farm Fresh, calling on his vast knowledge of wine.

Andy and Chris moved back to Pennsylvania due to her new job and later to Wilmington, DE, where he continued in retail wine sales. Now retired, their final move was to Rowlett, TX to be closer to their daughters and grandchildren. Until he became ill, Andy attended their games, concerts and other activities, and just before he passed away, celebrated Noah's attaining a black belt in Taekwondo. Andy had a lifelong love of European soccer, American football and baseball, his dachshunds, and of course, a glass of good wine.

Andrzej is survived by his wife of 56 years, Christine, and his children: Alison Blokzyl (Matthew), Garland, TX, Hannah Francis (Reagan), Rowlett, TX and Peter Barabasz, Richmond, VA. His grandchildren, Andrzej Booker Cherry, Lena Rose Francis, and Noah Paul Francis, will miss their beloved Papa. He is also survived by his cousin Salomea Bittenbinder and niece Monique Barabasz. Andrzej was predeceased by his parents, infant sister Malgorzata, and brother Piotr Barabasz.

A memorial service for family and friends will be held in the spring.