Charles Bernard Barcelona

On May 15, 2020, heaven is rejoicing as Charles Bernard

Barcelona, (of Pittsburgh, PA and Boca Raton FL)

extraordinary, one of a kind patriarch, commander in chief,

champion, and self proclaimed most important role of all, ‘the

Nono’ has passed away 2 months after celebrating his 90th

birthday with his college sweetheart (Toledo University) and

wife, Nancy (Naumann) and 3 children Bindy (Dave Matesic),

Brett (Teresa Torrell) and Beth (Joe Lipovich) and his entire

ever growing family.

To so many, Chuck was known for incredible accomplishments and recognized for service to others, receiving achievements and awards in sports, business, and life. He was family first, an unsurpassed son, brother, uncle, husband and father (and both grand and great); an avid

sports’ enthusiast, and captain on the football field; an army

lieutenant; a dynamic philanthropist; and a pioneer in the

grocery business spanning from Pittsburgh at Foodland/Fox

Grocery Co. to Buffalo, NY as President and CEO of Peter J.

Schmitt /Bells Markets.

Chuck led the campaigns of many: Catholic Charities, United

Way, Boys Town of Italy, March of Dimes, and initiated kids’

foundations through professional athletes.

One of the highlights of his life with Nancy was meeting

privately, Pope John Paul II, and was truly touched by a Saint.

Anyone who has ever met our Dad, Chuck, was also touched

by the immediate interest he took upon introduction. From

restaurant servers, clinicians, drivers, tour guides, doctors,

CEOs, celebrities and Presidents of the US, …He was about

engagement, connections, eye to eye, a warm embrace, a

strong handshake, genuine care, and most definitely

discerning advice...if you too measured up on sincerity,

honesty, and no bs, more than anything you were his fast

friend and he’d jump through hoops to demonstrate this. And

if you were really lucky, you were soon to be considered part

of his family.

Whether it was taking the reigns of a failing grocery chain and

turning it around, building a marina out of the swampy shores

of lake Chautauqua in retirement or at the age of 87 helping a

disabled orphaned man succeed at living a dignified life of

self sufficiency, no one could be as passionate about a plan

as Charles Barcelona.

A big unheralded part of every plan was always bringing

others on board. Chuck’s success was much more

meaningful, much sweeter and much greater to him when it

was shared. And the friendships he made along the way were

his measure of success.

His biggest accomplishment and what he was most PROUD

is the love story he created with our mom for 70 years and

their 3 (+3) children and their ever growing families of 18

grandkids, 2 great grand kids and 3 babies on the way.

In the spirit of our Dad’s life, in lieu of flowers, if you would like

to pay a little kindness forward to someone along the way,

…maybe a little advice to a younger person (he’d love that),

tip the drive through worker, or treat a friend to lunch,...and

then think of our dad and say a prayer in his great memory.

A Roman Catholic Funeral Service will be held at St. Jude

Catholic Church 21689 Toledo Rd. Boca Raton, Fl. 33433 on

Monday May 18, 2020 at 10 am. The mass will be live

streamed with details to follow for family or friends that are

unable to attend.