Albert
Joseph
Baratto
BUSKIRK -
Albert
Joseph
Baratto of
Buskirk, NY,
passed away
on June 26,
2021 after a
brief stay
at Glens
Falls
Hospital.
Although he
fought
bravely for
months to
stave off
the symptoms
of
Congestive
Heart
Failure and
chronic
kidney
disease with
medication
and
dialysis,
his body
finally had
no choice
but to take
a final bow.
FAMILY.
Albert
graduated
from
Cambridge
Central
School in
1963 and
went on to
earn an
A.A.S. in
Business at
St. Joseph's
College in
Bennington,
VT in 1965.
He is
survived by
his wife of
56 years,
Diane Ruth
(Dunham)
Baratto;
daughter
Stacy Rae
Baratto and
her partner
Christine
Kay Bryan
(orig.
Wauchula,
FL) of Eagle
Bridge, NY;
son Jason
Mathew
Baratto and
his wife
Paula Marie
Baratto of
Stephentown,
NY;
granddaughter
Samantha Rae
Baratto, her
partner
Jesse
Conklin and
their baby,
Albert's
great
grandson,
Jaxon Wells
Conklin all
residing in
Stephentown,
NY; and
grandson,
Jacob Mathew
Baratto of
Averill
Park, NY.
Most
importantly,
he leaves
behind his
two best
recliner
buddies, his
Pomeranian
"Pup Pup"
and his
ChiWeenie
"Scooter".
On a
comforting
note, "Chuckie"
his late
corgi/beagle
and doughnut
sharing
comrade, was
waiting
eagerly for
him so they
could cross
the Rainbow
Bridge
together
toward the
Pearly
Gates.
Albert's
parents were
his father,
the late
Joseph
Anthony
Baratto,
formerly of
Stephenson
Rd. in
Cambridge,
NY and his
late mother,
Helena Sara
(Keyser)
Baratto (orig
from
Roxbury,
NY), his
late brother
Gerald
"Fritz"
Baratto of
Beaumont, TX
and late
infant
brother
David
Baratto. He
is survived
by his
sister,
Phyllis
Claire (Baratto)
Cristaldi
and her
husband
Robert of
Cambridge,
NY.
STORY BEHIND
THE NAME.
Albert, also
known as "A.J"
in his early
years, then
"Al" for
many folks
and later
evolving to
"Bert" to
family
members.
Bert was
actually
named after
his Uncle
Albert
Baratto,
also from
Cambridge,
NY, when he
was born in
1944.
Worried that
Uncle Albert
would not
return from
his
deployment
in Europe
during WWII,
Helena and
Joe wanted
to be sure
that Joe's
brave,
younger
brother
would be
remembered
through
their baby
son's
namesake.
Through
amazing
luck, Uncle
Albert did
return from
overseas,
started his
own family,
and
Cambridge
was forever
graced with
two Albert
Barattos as
uncle and
nephew.
WORK LIFE.
Bert had
several
careers
during his
lifetime. He
sold
insurance in
the 1960's
while in his
early
twenties,
leased and
ran the
Hillcrest
Tavern in
West
Stephentown,
NY in his
late 20's
and became
renowned for
the clam
steams he
catered for
various
organizations
in the
Averill
Park, NY
area (circa
1970-1984).
He also
operated the
kitchen and
commissary
at the
Berkshire
Farm Center
& Services
for Youth in
Canaan, NY,
serving
troubled
youth three
square meals
a day until
the middle
1980's. Then
it was his
dream to own
and operate
a family
restaurant,
first in
Stephentown,
NY then a
second
location in
Cambridge,
NY until the
mid 1990's.
For health
reasons,
Bert and
Diane
decomplicated
the stress
in their
lives and
downsized
from the
restaurant
business to
a simpler
life in
South
Cambridge,
NY. The "Old
Man" was how
he was
affectionately
referred to
by the young
crew from
the Fort
Miller
company, in
Greenwich,
NY for the
next several
years of his
working
career.
Fast forward
to the new
millennium
where he was
a key
component in
helping
daughter
Stacy launch
her small
start-up
business,
Infinity Pet
Services in
Eagle
Bridge, NY.
From
installing
siding and
putting up
insulation
in the new
crematory
building, to
eventually
operating
the machines
and
performing
cremations,
he greatly
helped build
a successful
pet
cremation
business
over the
last 20
years until
retirement.
BEST HOBBY.
Bert's best
adventures
were on his
Honda
Goldwing
motorcycle.
In the late
1980's, he
and Diane
would
explore the
Adirondacks
of New York,
Green
Mountains of
Vermont and
the White
Mountains
and Lakes
Region of
New
Hampshire.
Their
absolute
favorite
ride was
cruising
Route 100
through the
Green
Mountains
with Bert's
favorite
song
blasting on
the cassette
player of
the Goldwing
– Top Gun's
"Danger
Zone" by
Kenny
Loggins!
Diane plans
on spreading
some of his
cremains on
that very
route.
BEST
FRIENDS.
Bert's
absolute
favorite
place to be
for many
years has
been
Benson's
Restaurant
on the
corner in
Eagle
Bridge, NY.
Sitting at
the lunch
counter and
bantering
with both
the friendly
Benson staff
and the
"Riff Raff"
clientele he
accused his
friends of
being, was
the spark
that
continued to
keep him
moving on
many days
while he was
sick. One of
the
notorious
things Bert
was known
for at
Benson's
were his
funny,
sarcastic
and edgy
t-shirts.
The Crew at
the lunch
counter will
chuckle to
know he was
put to rest
in one of
his
favorites,
"I'm Gettin'
Real Tired
of WEARING
PANTS and
having
RESPONSIBILITIES!"
QUIET
CELEBRATION…NOT
GOODBYE. The
family
decided to
grieve
together
quietly and
not have any
formal
services.
What they
would truly
cherish are
cards with
anecdotal
stories
containing
humorous or
kind
encounters
you may have
had with
A.J./Bert/Al
over his 77
trips around
the sun!
Writing them
down will
really help
keep him
with us for
years to
come. Thank
you so much
for taking
the time to
write this
treasured
request.
Please mail
them to: The
Baratto
Family, 14
County Rte.
59A,
Buskirk, NY
12028. The
card is more
than enough,
but if you
wished to
make a
donation as
well,
perhaps
enclose a
check for
$10 (or
whatever
your budget
will allow
during these
tough times)
made out to
the
Cambridge
Valley
Rescue
Squad. They
responded to
emergency
calls
several
times in
recent
months
during
Bert's
rollercoaster
of sickness.
Each and
every EMT
team who
responded
exhibited
the utmost
in kindness,
caring,
patience,
and
professionalism
with BOTH
Bert as the
patient and
Diane as the
very worried
spouse. It
should be
shared that
Benson's
Restaurant
and the
Cambridge
Valley
Rescue Squad
are shining
stars in our
community.
BUSKIRK -
Albert
Joseph
Baratto of
Buskirk, NY,
passed away
on June 26,
2021 after a
brief stay
at Glens
Falls
Hospital.
Although he
fought
bravely for
months to
stave off
the symptoms
of
Congestive
Heart
Failure and
chronic
kidney
disease with
medication
and
dialysis,
his body
finally had
no choice
but to take
a final bow.
FAMILY.
Albert
graduated
from
Cambridge
Central
School in
1963 and
went on to
earn an
A.A.S. in
Business at
St. Joseph's
College in
Bennington,
VT in 1965.
He is
survived by
his wife of
56 years,
Diane Ruth
(Dunham)
Baratto;
daughter
Stacy Rae
Baratto and
her partner
Christine
Kay Bryan
(orig.
Wauchula,
FL) of Eagle
Bridge, NY;
son Jason
Mathew
Baratto and
his wife
Paula Marie
Baratto of
Stephentown,
NY;
granddaughter
Samantha Rae
Baratto, her
partner
Jesse
Conklin and
their baby,
Albert's
great
grandson,
Jaxon Wells
Conklin all
residing in
Stephentown,
NY; and
grandson,
Jacob Mathew
Baratto of
Averill
Park, NY.
Most
importantly,
he leaves
behind his
two best
recliner
buddies, his
Pomeranian
"Pup Pup"
and his
ChiWeenie
"Scooter".
On a
comforting
note,
"Chuckie"
his late
corgi/beagle
and doughnut
sharing
comrade, was
waiting
eagerly for
him so they
could cross
the Rainbow
Bridge
together
toward the
Pearly
Gates.
Albert's
parents were
his father,
the late
Joseph
Anthony
Baratto,
formerly of
Stephenson
Rd. in
Cambridge,
NY and his
late mother,
Helena Sara
(Keyser)
Baratto
(orig from
Roxbury,
NY), his
late brother
Gerald
"Fritz"
Baratto of
Beaumont, TX
and late
infant
brother
David
Baratto. He
is survived
by his
sister,
Phyllis
Claire
(Baratto)
Cristaldi
and her
husband
Robert of
Cambridge,
NY.
STORY BEHIND
THE NAME.
Albert, also
known as
"A.J" in his
early years,
then "Al"
for many
folks and
later
evolving to
"Bert" to
family
members.
Bert was
actually
named after
his Uncle
Albert
Baratto,
also from
Cambridge,
NY, when he
was born in
1944.
Worried that
Uncle Albert
would not
return from
his
deployment
in Europe
during WWII,
Helena and
Joe wanted
to be sure
that Joe's
brave,
younger
brother
would be
remembered
through
their baby
son's
namesake.
Through
amazing
luck, Uncle
Albert did
return from
overseas,
started his
own family,
and
Cambridge
was forever
graced with
two Albert
Barattos as
uncle and
nephew.
WORK LIFE.
Bert had
several
careers
during his
lifetime. He
sold
insurance in
the 1960's
while in his
early
twenties,
leased and
ran the
Hillcrest
Tavern in
West
Stephentown,
NY in his
late 20's
and became
renowned for
the clam
steams he
catered for
various
organizations
in the
Averill
Park, NY
area (circa
1970-1984).
He also
operated the
kitchen and
commissary
at the
Berkshire
Farm Center
& Services
for Youth in
Canaan, NY,
serving
troubled
youth three
square meals
a day until
the middle
1980's. Then
it was his
dream to own
and operate
a family
restaurant,
first in
Stephentown,
NY then a
second
location in
Cambridge,
NY until the
mid 1990's.
For health
reasons,
Bert and
Diane
decomplicated
the stress
in their
lives and
downsized
from the
restaurant
business to
a simpler
life in
South
Cambridge,
NY. The "Old
Man" was how
he was
affectionately
referred to
by the young
crew from
the Fort
Miller
company, in
Greenwich,
NY for the
next several
years of his
working
career.
Fast forward
to the new
millennium
where he was
a key
component in
helping
daughter
Stacy launch
her small
start-up
business,
Infinity Pet
Services in
Eagle
Bridge, NY.
From
installing
siding and
putting up
insulation
in the new
crematory
building, to
eventually
operating
the machines
and
performing
cremations,
he greatly
helped build
a successful
pet
cremation
business
over the
last 20
years until
retirement.
BEST HOBBY.
Bert's best
adventures
were on his
Honda
Goldwing
motorcycle.
In the late
1980's, he
and Diane
would
explore the
Adirondacks
of New York,
Green
Mountains of
Vermont and
the White
Mountains
and Lakes
Region of
New
Hampshire.
Their
absolute
favorite
ride was
cruising
Route 100
through the
Green
Mountains
with Bert's
favorite
song
blasting on
the cassette
player of
the Goldwing
– Top Gun's
"Danger
Zone" by
Kenny
Loggins!
Diane plans
on spreading
some of his
cremains on
that very
route.
BEST
FRIENDS.
Bert's
absolute
favorite
place to be
for many
years has
been
Benson's
Restaurant
on the
corner in
Eagle
Bridge, NY.
Sitting at
the lunch
counter and
bantering
with both
the friendly
Benson staff
and the
"Riff Raff"
clientele he
accused his
friends of
being, was
the spark
that
continued to
keep him
moving on
many days
while he was
sick. One of
the
notorious
things Bert
was known
for at
Benson's
were his
funny,
sarcastic
and edgy
t-shirts.
The Crew at
the lunch
counter will
chuckle to
know he was
put to rest
in one of
his
favorites,
"I'm Gettin'
Real Tired
of WEARING
PANTS and
having
RESPONSIBILITIES!"
QUIET
CELEBRATION…NOT
GOODBYE. The
family
decided to
grieve
together
quietly and
not have any
formal
services.
What they
would truly
cherish are
cards with
anecdotal
stories
containing
humorous or
kind
encounters
you may have
had with A.J./Bert/Al
over his 77
trips around
the sun!
Writing them
down will
really help
keep him
with us for
years to
come. Thank
you so much
for taking
the time to
write this
treasured
request.
Please mail
them to: The
Baratto
Family, 14
County Rte.
59A, Buskirk,
NY 12028.
The card is
more than
enough, but
if you
wished to
make a
donation as
well,
perhaps
enclose a
check for
$10 (or
whatever
your budget
will allow
during these
tough times)
made out to
the
Cambridge
Valley
Rescue
Squad. They
responded to
emergency
calls
several
times in
recent
months
during
Bert's
rollercoaster
of sickness.
Each and
every EMT
team who
responded
exhibited
the utmost
in kindness,
caring,
patience,
and
professionalism
with BOTH
Bert as the
patient and
Diane as the
very worried
spouse. It
should be
shared that
Benson's
Restaurant
and the
Cambridge
Valley
Rescue Squad
are shining
stars in our
community.
Class of
1963
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Rose List
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