Francis "Frank" Barone of San Diego, a longtime teacher in the Poway Unified School District, died May 29, 2024. He was 95.Born January 30, 1929, in Queens, N.Y., he graduated from St. John's University with a bachelor's degree in 1952. He also earned a bachelor's degree in sacred theology from St. Mary's Seminary & University in 1955, and a master's degree in education from St. John's University in 1962. After teaching in New York City, he moved to San Diego in 1964 after meeting his future wife, Josephine Macaluso, on a blind date there, set up by his brother Robert. The couple married that year and lived in Del Cerro, where they were active members of St. Therese Roman Catholic Parish.Barone was a dedicated educator and shared his enthusiasm for English literature, poetry, and creative writing with thousands of students at Poway High School, where he was known as "The Metaphor Man." He served as chairman of the communication arts department at Poway High. A frequent consultant on teaching writing, he was named one of three Teachers of the Year by the San Diego County Office of Education in 1979. He also received an Award for Classroom Excellence from the California Association of Teachers of English in 1986. He retired in 1993 after 37 years as a teacher.He published several books on writing through the San Diego Area Writing Project, as well as collections of short stories and poetry, including "Lilacs," "Hummingbirds and Other Metaphors," "The Poetry of Sport and the Sport of Poetry," and "Poetry and Cappuccino." He enjoyed playing golf, writing and sharing poetry, watching the Padres and college basketball, discussing movies, books, and literature over a cup of Starbucks coffee and most of all, his family.He was preceded in death by his wife; parents Pasquale and Teresa Barone; brothers Mario (Filomena) and Robert (Ida Rose) Barone, and sisters Rita and Rose Marie Barone. Surviving are his children, Teri (Rich) Baird, and Frank (Michele) Barone, both of San Diego; two grandchildren, Charlie Baird and Joseph Barone, also of San Diego; a brother, Saverio (Linda) Barone of Washington, Utah; several nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews; several cousins; and many friends and colleagues in the San Diego area and beyond.A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 15, 2024, at St. Therese Parish, 6400 St. Therese Way, San Diego. A graveside service will follow at noon at El Camino Memorial Park, 5600 Carroll Canyon Road, San Diego, with a celebration of life afterward at the park. For information, or to share memories and condolences, please visit the El Camino Memorial website.

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Published by San Diego Union-Tribune on Jun. 9, 2024.

Memories and Condolences
for Francis Barone

Sponsored by El Camino Memorial – Sorrento Valley and El Camino Memorial Park and Mortuaries (Sorrento Valley).

16 Entries

Jay Allen

December 31, 2024

I first met Mr Barone at Poway High in 1974 when I took his Russian Literature course and one of the books we read were "One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich" by Alexandr Solzhenitsyn. That book had a big influence on me and still does to this day. I then took his Creative Writing class in 1975 and remember how his ideas about writing opened up feelings about myself and my surroundings that at the time I didn't know how to express. He was a great teacher that encouraged all of us to find our true selves. I still have my writings from those classes and the wonderful memories of sitting in a circle and one by one sharing our writings with each other. I have thought of him often through the years and regret not reaching out to him to personally thank him for his dedication to his art of teaching. Something reminded me of him today and I decided to Google him to see what I could find. Aye, eye, I! RIP kind sir and condolences to his family. This student will always remember your caring warm soul.

Sam Holty

June 20, 2024

Mr. Barone changed my life. I first met him as an awkward high school freshman in 1978 at Poway High. His methods and encouragement helped me to find my voice through writing. He always encouraged to "show not tell" and "be prolific". And he always encouraged me to publish the decent things I had written. I ended up taking his classes through high school, partly because he'd give an A for the semester if you managed to get something published. But mostly because he improved my writing, which improved everything else. I will never forget Mr. Barone. He was a formidable, inspiring and gentle man. A great teacher.

Samuel S Turner, Professor Emeritus

June 14, 2024

Dearest Frank, rest in peace. You have left a strong legacy of students, as well as your colleagues like me.

When I first met you as first year Fellows at the San Diego Area Writers Project that summer of 1977 at UCSD, you were a star among us other educators.

We were to learn and to share our successes in teaching writing, so that first day you encouraged us to literally "unscrew the desks" so that we could sit in a circle rather than facing an orator at the podium. That was a symbolic start to our six weeks of sharing, bonding, and promoting the teaching of writing.......46 years ago, yet I carry in my heart those Fellows no longer with us: John Waterhouse, Bob Litchfield, Mary Barr, Bob Infantino, Martha Johnson, Dani Barton, Bill Spivey, Anne von dear Mehden, Gladys Carpenter, Bud Higby & probably others

Say "Hi" to them all for me!

Sam Turner, Retired
English Department, Cuyamaca College

Mark Brawner, class of 1986

June 14, 2024

I have indelible memories of the man and his Creative Writing class, which I took for two terms my senior year 1985-86. The students who got to the classroom earliest would rearrange the chairs from rows into a circle. And though it was an after-lunch period, when he arrived and sat down with us he would always greet us with, "Good morning," with a smile and a twinkle in his eye. I don't recall attempting to write any poetry, although I must have. I remember writing bits of narrative fiction and kind of creative essayistic things. Occasionally, if he really especially liked a piece, he would write at the top of the manuscript -- in addition to his marginal notes -- "publish". Haha, sure. It's not that good, and but also publish it *where*? lol He created a very welcoming sort of workshop environment where we would read our work to the class and then receive reactions from him and our peers. Just a lovely atmosphere. He was a great one whose memory is a blessing.

Marcia Kay Cary

June 14, 2024

I was in his classes from 1964-1967.
Mr Baroness was my favorite teacher of all time! He gave me confidence in my writing, which has lasted through my life.
I have thought of him often throughout the years..
He was a wonderful person, and a wonderful teacher!
I know he influenced many young people, and we will miss him greatly!

Laura Singers-Swesey

June 11, 2024

RIP Mr. Barome, you are often thought of by me, for exposing me to the world of reading. In high school (early 70´s), you gave me my first novel....To Kill a Mockingbird....and I was hooked ever since, I have read thousands of novels since then and love every minute. Thank you for taking the time with me, you opened a window I did not know existed.

Marcus De Baca

June 10, 2024

I was Senior Class President at Poway High School in 1968--the same year a great fire engulfed the campus and the same year it snowed on the football field. I'll always remember Mr. Baron as a kind, philosophical and introspective teacher. He actually encouraged me to write poetry, which I did throughout my college years and beyond, getting published in a few Literary Magazines. He loved teaching and he loved literature. They say there are two kinds of teachers-- those who teach a subject and those who teach kids. Mr. Barron was an exception in that he did both brilliantly. I know I am just one of the thousands who were fortunate enough to experience his exceptional character in the classroom from the 1960s-1990's. How much of his influence resulted in my own later teaching of English for 45 years in both California and Greece is hard to surmise. But it had to be significant. He will be missed certainly by his family, but also thought of often by his former students.

Traci Barker-Ball

June 9, 2024

I had the pleasure of teaching with Frank Barone at Poway High School. He was a legend--always the classiest person and considered one of the, if not THE best teachers, ever to grace the Titan halls. When I was selected as Teacher of the Year, I remember his words of wisdom. When he congratulated me and I shared that I didn't think I was the best person for this honor, he told me not to think of it as being the "best teacher," but as the best representative of all the great teachers at PHS. Those words were what I needed to hear!

Margo Hardenbergh Cooper

June 9, 2024

RIP Mr.Barone. You I shall never forget you taught me with true understanding on words. You were one of the best teachers I've ever had. You touched apart of everyone you taught. Never forgotten.

Diana (Pace) Tomes PHS Class of 86

June 9, 2024

Mr. Barone instilled in me a love of writing. I still have a binder of most of the writings I did in his class. He would write "publish" on writings he really knew were publishable.
My condolences to his family and friends.
95! What a life he had and the innumerable amount of young people he passed his passion to.

Bill Chiment

June 9, 2024

The man who wrote "Lilacs" and lived life giving to others. A legacy carved in our hearts.

Tobi Pavlas

Planted Trees

Julie Rogelstad

June 9, 2024

Mr. Barone made writing fun and therapeutic. He was an incredible teacher and helped pull out creativity you didn´t even know you had. RIP Mr. Barone

Tobi Pavlas Children´s book author, Class of 1993

June 9, 2024

He used to write "Aye, Eye.I" on writing he thought was good. I looked forward to his class circle Senior year. He was one of a kind. I appreciate how he made me a better writer.

Anne Peavy Breight

June 9, 2024

Mr Barone gave me a love for literature. I have fondest memories of a summer class he taught on Shakespeare. We studied several works of Shakespeare then went to The Old Globe to see them performed. He loved what he did as a teacher.

Kathie Munday Sanks

June 9, 2024

You were one of my favorite teachers. Thank you for all you taught me.
RIP Mr. Barone

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