Joseph Barbieri

Joseph Barbieri, 92, of Torrington, CT, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, September 25, after a brief illness. Joe was born August 13, 1933, in Torrington, CT, the son of the late Tarquin and Pauline Barbieri.

After graduating from Torrington High School, Joe joined the United States Army, where he served with an engineering company based in Alaska from 1954 to 1956. After his honorable discharge, he returned to Torrington and met Joyce Wiengart, the love of his life. They later married and together they raised three sons. Joe and Joyce shared a love of travel, spending winters in Florida as snowbirds and taking annual vacations to Aruba.

Joe began his career working for local construction companies before becoming a union carpenter. He soon became a superintendent for Anderson Fairoaks, and then Roncari Industries. In 1983, he started his own company, RJB Contracting, with his son Ray. RJB Contracting was a Torrington-based construction company, operated successfully for over 40 years.

As a business-owner, Joe had the opportunity to follow his passions, serving his community with neverending generosity. He was a member of The Civitan and Unico Clubs, serving as President of each during his tenure. Every Memorial Day, Joe and his friends would mark graves of deceased military personnel with American flags at Torrington cemeteries. His service to the community eventually led to him being selected as Torrington’s “Italian Mayor” for the day. He was also a lifetime member of Saint Peter Church and Holy Name Society.

After his wife’s battle with cancer, Joe became very involved with the Cancer Care Center on Kennedy Drive, where he served on the Board for many years. As a tribute to Joyce, he constructed the Healing Trail, a path many have walked to enjoy the serenity and calming beauty of nature as a brief respite from their battles with the terrible disease. He also helped organize and sponsor a golf tournament, raising thousands, to help people pay for living expenses during their cancer treatment.

Family was Joe’s top priority. From gathering together for fried dough on Good Friday, to preparing a full Thanksgiving dinner – which would not be complete without his famous antipasto – Joe loved celebrating every occasion with family and friends. In his free time, Joe loved gardening, and picking fresh fruits when in season.

In addition to his parents Tarquin and Pauline, Joe was predeceased by his wife, Joyce (Weingart) Barbieri, in 2004, whom he loved deeply until the day he passed. Also, his siblings, Adele (Barbieri) Benamati and John Campanelli.

He is survived by his three sons and their wives – Ray and Rita of Naples, Florida, Jim and Nancy of New Hartford, CT, and Brian and Kimberly of Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire – and his beloved cat, Nutmeg (who he considered his fourth son). He is also survived by grandchildren, Rachel Barbieri (Finley), Raven Barbieri (Boisvert), Gillian Barbieri, Zachary Barbieri, Amber Barbieri; step grandchildren, Cassandra Morin, Amanda Bushka, and Jay Crump; nephews and nieces, including Paula Dansereau, Susan Benamati, Greg Campanelli, Keith Campanelli, Rick Campanelli, Donna Palmer, Susan (Palmer) Slavich, and Wayne Palmer. Joe, affectionately known as Papa Bear, also had several great grandchildren that he loved seeing and spoiling with sweet treats before sending them home with their parents.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, October 3, 2025, with the cortege leaving at 10:30 a.m. from Cook Funeral Home, 82 Litchfield St., Torrington, to St. Peter Church, (St. John Paul the Great Parish), 99 East Main St., Torrington for a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Hillside Cemetery with full military honors accorded. Relatives and friends may call on Friday morning from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at Cook Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Cancer Care Fund of the Litchfield Hills, Inc. 200 Kennedy Drive, Torrington, CT 06790 or a local cat shelter, in honor of Nutmeg.