Salvatore Barbera, a widely known and respected leader in national and international telecommunications died at his Florida home on Thursday, May 12 following an extended illness surrounded by his wife and three children.


Mr. Barbera served 43 years in the Bell Telephone System, rising from entry to senior level positions at New York Telephone and AT&T. In the 1970's, he was instrumental in working through the service crisis' that beset New York Telephone.


With the enforced break-up of the Bell System, Mr. Barbera became an Officer with the newly formed Bell Atlantic (now Verizon) where he was a driving force in creating the partnerships which led to the implementation of the "intelligent network". In 1987, he became President of Bell Atlantic International where he leveraged his expertise in crafting partnerships into the expanding global telecommunications markets.


Among his significant accomplishments was a partnership with Bell Communications Research, which resulted in sales to telecoms in the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and New Zealand. Following Czechoslovakian independence, he formed a venture with the new Czech Telecom Company to operate cellular and data networks. Under Barbera's leadership, Bell Atlantic headed a $2.4 billion privatization and the first public offering of Telecom New Zealand. After Barbera retired in 1990, he continued working as a consultant to Bell Atlantic and several other international companies in the telecom sector.


Mr. Barbera was born, August 29, 1925 on the lower East Side of Manhattan. During the depression, he and his younger brothers were placed temporarily in foster care, as often happened with struggling families. In 1943, Sal left high school to join the Navy during World War II where he served in the Pacific theater.


While in the Navy he attended the Telecommunications School in Washington, DC which introduced him to his life-long career in telecommunications. After being discharged honorably from the Navy, he went on to graduate from Metropolitan High School in New York City, The Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn and earned a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Long Island University.


A former colleague described Sal as "a man of brilliant mind, exceptional intellect, generous heart and an extraordinary sense of humor". Another said that he was a man "of strong values who instinctively knew right from wrong". Sal loved books, music, football, telling his "true stories" and a good "Churchill" cigar. He and his wife Susan always enjoyed their lives together especially at their home in Italy where Sal found a special connection with his heritage; he took enormous pleasure in tending his olive trees and sharing his olive oil. Locally, he was known as a "Sicilian gentleman of the old school".


Mr. Barbera is survived by his wife Susan (nee Oliver); two daughters, Susan Barbera, Cynthia Seitz, his son Robert. J. Barbera, five grandchildren and one great grandson.
A memorial service is planned for June 13 at the Kensico Cemetery in Westchester County, New York.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Bethesda Hospital Foundation, P.O. Box 243628, Boynton Beach, FL 33424 Click Here to Donate or the charity of your choice.