Sunday, January 25, 1998 Page:
Father’s influence shapes son’s character and wins gratitude
The following letter was in response to a request by the Philadelphia Bar
Association for stories of individuals who have been an inspiration in
others’
lives. The stories were to be printed in a future edition of the
Philadelphia
Bar ReporterThe result, from a son to a father, is a touching tribute to a
man who was a true member of the Wilkes-Barre community for 71 years:
“To Whom It May Concern:
Please accept my memorial contribution payable to the Philadelphia Bar
Foundation in memory of my teacher, mentor and guide, Joseph P. Barberio. He
was my dad who died this past October and, moreover, he was the reason I
decided to become an attorney although he wasn’t a lawyer or even a college
graduate.
“What he was, though, was a great man. Great because he knew, practiced and
taught- both my sister and myself- that the real meaning of life is found
through helping others and being of service to the community at large.
“He was probably the smartest, kindest, most caring and compassionate man I
have ever met. He valued learning and education and never was seen sitting at
home in his favorite chair without a book in his hands. He taught his children
very early the power of knowledge and to love learning by taking them to the
local public library and allowing them to select their own books.
“He sacrificed his time by working two jobs as a postal clerk and as a
school bus driver so his children could have a better life and more
opportunity than he had as a child growing up poor, one of 11 children and the
son of Italian immigrants.
&nbs