Judge Herbert Herb Barall

Judge Herbert “Herb” Barall, 84, of East Hartford, loving husband of over 60 years of Regina “Reggie” (White) Barall, peacefully passed away on Thursday, April 20, 2017. Born in Bronx, NY on August 17, 1932 he had been a resident of East Hartford for over 65 years. Herb attended East Hartford High School and was a member of the National Honor Society and the East Hartford basketball team. He was a graduate of New York University, Class of 1953 and graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School, Class of 1956. Herb was a Captain and proud veteran of the U.S. Air Force from 1956 to 1970. Always willing to give back and serve his community, Herb was a former Councilman for the town of East Hartford, a former member of the Board of Education, and a Corporation Council for East Hartford from 1969-1973.

In February of 1979, Herb was appointed a Superior Court Judge for the state of Connecticut and was known for being fair and a gentleman. He was a presiding Judge of Major Criminal Matters in Hartford, presiding Judge for the Civil Division in Hartford, and presiding Judge of the family court in Hartford. Since retiring first as a Senior Judge, Judge Barall had been approved twice as a judge trial referee with his present term expiring this year. He was honored in several ways by the Hartford County Bar Association, with one being a portrait of Judge Barall hanging in the main courtroom at the Family Court at 90 Washington Street in Hartford. There is also an annual award in Judge Barall’s name awarded each year to the best family law student at the University of Connecticut Law School.

Herb was a co-founder and former President of the League for Autistic and Mentally Handicapped Children in Connecticut. In 2002, Herb and his wife, Reggie, formed the Circle of Life: Arts for All, at the East Hartford Community Cultural Center. At “COLAFA” they used their talent and love of dance as a primary focus as a form of outreach. Middle and high school students from the towns of East Hartford, New Britain, Simsbury, and Glastonbury learned discipline, commitment, respect, and teamwork through formal ballroom dance study by Herb and Reggie. Herb was a member of the East Hartford Rotary Club where he earned the prestigious Paul Harris Fellow Award in 2006. He also received the following awards, East Hartford High School Student Council, East Hartford Youth Services, East Hartford Third District, East Hartford Mayor’s Award, East Hartford Board of Education, Childplan of East Hartford Board Member of the Year, State of Connecticut General Assembly Award for Community Service, Congressman John Larson’s Award for Community Service, and the Connecticut Association of Arts Administration Outstanding Contributions in Arts Advocacy. In his free time, Herb enjoyed dancing, basketball, tennis, golf, and spending time with his wife, family and dear friends.

In addition to his beloved wife, Reggie, Herb is survived by his two devoted sons, Attorney Douglas T. Barall and his fiancée, AnnMarie Messier, of South Windsor; Gregg Barall of East Hartford; two cherished grandchildren, Justin Barall of Boston, MA, and Haley Barall of South Windsor; many nieces, nephews, and dear friends.

Funeral service will be Friday (April 28, 2017) at 11:30 a.m. at the D’Esopo-East Hartford Memorial Chapel, 30 Carter Street, East Hartford with Rabbi Jeffrey Glickman officiating. Burial with military honors will follow at Silver Lane Cemetery-Veteran’s Memorial Field #2, East Hartford. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home on Thursday (April 27, 2017) from 2-7 p.m. For on-line expressions of sympathy to the family please visit www.desopo.com.