REGINA LIPOWSKI BARBARESI
June 6, 1930 - February 26, 2026
Our incredible Mother, Mother in Law, Grandmother and Great Grandmother, Regina Barbaresi, passed away peacefully on February 26th at the amazing age of 95. She is reunited with the love of her life, our father Gerald Barbaresi 10/7/1927 - 8/17/1998
Known as Reggie, Mom, Nonnie and Bisnonna, she had a smile that lit up any room and an infectious laugh which our father tried to invoke as much as possible. She was wicked smart, a classy dresser and hands down the most organized person you would ever meet. She was strong, wise, calm, exceedingly patient, and a progressive thinker ahead of her time. She loved painting and knitting, chair yoga and line dancing. Besides being a voracious reader, she was ridiculously good at solving cryptograms and puzzles. Mom was a loyal friend, loved to travel the world and sang in a chorus. A role model and a truly honest and kind person - she was rare and precious.
Our mother was Polish and an only child who bravely and happily married into a large Italian family. Our father warned his six older sisters before he introduced her that this was ‘the one’ and that they had better behave. They absolutely did. Eva Blasi, Jean Borrelli, Ann Bontempo, Edith Piccolo, Dora Donroe and Dava Catone became her beloved extended family. Because our grandmother Alodia Belbusti Barbaresi lived with her for sixteen years, she learned to be one of the best Italian cooks in the family. In her later years she took on the role of teacher for the next generation, helping to preserve our treasured family recipes of the Marche region.
She graduated in 1951 from New Haven State Teachers College, now Southern Connecticut State University. She met our father there and the story goes that she prevented him from flunking out. This ensured that they both had long and successful careers in education. Dad, a substitute math teacher, rose to Superintendent of New Haven Schools; Mom, an elementary school teacher, earned a masters to become a Speech Pathologist. They adored all children, those they raised, those they taught and those they passed on the street. If I could have one wish for the world, it would be for everyone to be raised by parents who loved each other as much as ours did, and learn to love the way our family loves.

Listed below is her legacy and the lives she helped create and nurture.

THREE CHILDREN: George Barbaresi, Jaye Barbaresi Hensel, Charles Barbaresi,
Spouses: Harriet Barbaresi, William Hensel and Karen Star

EIGHT GRANDCHILDREN: Justin (JC), Jeremy, Kyle and Cassie Barbaresi, Jaime and Jennifer Hensel, Jared and Rachael Barbaresi

SEVEN GREAT GRANDCHILDREN: Aubrey Hensel, Cayden, Kaylee, and Cooper Barbaresi, Emerson Dudley, Piercen Malandra and Raylan Odato.

Donations:
More than 30 years ago, our parents started two scholarships at Southern Connecticut, one for
Education, one for Nursing. For those who would like to donate…

ONLINE:
giving.southernct.edu
Under Designation: go to “other” and type in:
1. Gerald and Regina Barbaresi Nursing Scholarship Fund
2. Gerald and Regina Barbaresi Education Scholarship Fund

By CHECK:
make check out to:
SCSUF (Southern Connecticut State University Foundation)
In note section: write the above scholarship title(s)
Mail to:
Southern Connecticut State University Foundation, 501 Crescent Street, OB1 108A New Haven, CT 06515