John Louis Barbieri

John was a loving and devoted husband, father, brother, son, uncle, and friend. He was born April 27, 1955 to the late Albert and Dorothy (Cornoni) Barbieri. He grew up playing baseball and hockey on the fields and ponds of Wellesley, Massachusetts. Raised in the Woodlands neighborhood, John attended Hardy Elementary and went on to graduate from Wellesley High School in 1973 and from Babson College in 1977. Since childhood, he spent summers at White Horse Beach in Plymouth, enjoying all aspects of the ocean – especially skipping stones (record: 27 skips). John had an adventurous spirit and a deep love of science, space, and aviation. He was a licensed pilot and closely followed celestial events, sharing his enthusiasm with family and friends.

A true ‘jack of all trades’, John had an illustrious professional life, which spanned from carpentry to meteorite dealing. He co-founded the science store Strata in Wellesley before beginning a long and fulfilling career at the Museum of Science in Boston, Massachusetts where he worked for 23 years. John was also a gifted athlete and avid sports fan. After retiring from the museum, he took on minimal part-time work at Wellesley College – just enough to fulfill his lifelong dream of joining the Nehoiden Golf Club. He often joked that he only worked so he could play golf. As a long-time Natick resident, he most recently became a volunteer steward of the Hunnewell Town Forest, taking great pride in near-daily excursions to help maintain the forest and pond for the enjoyment of all.

John is survived by his wife Karoline (Amundson) Barbieri, children Lindsay, Kiley, and Jordan Barbieri, and siblings Albert Barbieri and Barbara McGrath, as well as his many beloved in-laws, nieces and nephews. Well known for his sense of humor, John had a remarkable ability to bring light to any situation. Genuine, kind, and always willing to lend a hand, he was deeply loved by all who knew him. As a family, we send him off with love as he embarks on his voyage into the final frontier.

There will be a Celebration of Life for John at the AMVETS Post #79 in Natick on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, from 4:30 to 7 pm.