Aceste Joseph Michael Barbera of Wernersville PA, died peacefully with his family by his side on Saturday April 9 th . Aceste was born on February 13, 1921 in Reading PA to the proud parents of Anthony and Anna Maria (Guidara) Barbera. He was a graduate of Reading High School and graduated with a BS in Education from Temple University in 1943. Upon graduation Aceste served with distinction in WWII in the European Theater with the US Army from June of 1943 through January of 1946 where he was awarded among other medals two Bronze Stars. Upon discharge Aceste continued his education through the GI Bill at the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music graduating with a Master’s Degree in Music. While the violin was his first love since age 8, Aceste was introduced to his true love Dorothy Stavrides (predeceased 2002) of West Reading in 1958 by his sister and Dorothy’s coworker at the Reading Hospital, Mary Jo Weishampel. Aceste and Dorothy were married in 1960 and together they adopted two sons, Anthony and Nicholas, while living in Cincinnati, OH. Aceste was a professional violinist having performed with the Reading Symphony, Reading Pops, and the Reading Philharmonic Orchestras and several chamber music ensembles. He served as Concert Master for many years with the Kutztown University Orchestra. Aceste started his music teaching career in 1950 and taught in the East Mauch Chunk, PA (now Jim Thorpe), Cincinnati, OH, and in the Breathitt County, KY public school systems. He also taught at Caney Jr College, Union College and Alice Lloyd College in KY. He retired from teaching as Associate Professor of Music from Kutztown University, having served there from 1966 – 1983. Upon his retirement from KU, Aceste continued playing the violin professionally and often donated his talents to Trinity Lutheran Church in Kutztown partnering with his good friend and Choir Director Dick Wagner for many Easter and Christmas Eve services. He and Dorothy also traveled, maintained and grew their network of friends and doted on their seven grandchildren. Aceste is survived by son Anthony and wife Vicki and their daughters Gabriella, Sophia, Mia and Francesca of Ridgewood NJ, and by son Nicholas of Womelsdorf and his children Isabella, Nicholas, and Prudence as well as sisters Antonina Hollister, Agnes Ellsworth and Mary Jo Weishampel, and many loving nieces, nephews, in-laws and friends. He was predeceased by his parents, his sister Gaetana Slonaker, and brothers Michael and Corace (Curt) Barbera, both were also WWII Army Veterans.
Viewing Services will be Thursday April 14 th from 6-8pm at Hildenbrand Funeral Home 346 W Main St, Kutztown, PA 19530. F uneral services will be held at 10am on Friday April 15 th at Trinity Lutheran Church 357 West Main Street Kutztown PA. All are welcome at the interment at Forest Hills Cemetery, Exeter Township which will be preceded by a repast luncheon celebrating a life well lived.
In lieu of flowers donations would be greatly appreciated for either the Dorothy S. Barbera String Scholarship c/o Kutztown University 114 Old Main Street Kutztown, PA 19530 Attn: Fran Melchionne – Secretary (610)-683-4550 or Trinity Lutheran Church 357 W. Main Street Kutztown, PA 19530 Attn: Lisa Fink (610)-683-3450