Carmen Michael Barbato, 77, died peacefully at home on May 17, 2025, surrounded by his family. Born in Newark, New Jersey, Carmen grew up in the Down Neck (Ironbound) neighborhood, where he played baseball at Eastside High School. From 1966 to 1970, he proudly served in the United States Marine Corps, working in the communications center in Honolulu for two years before deploying to Vietnam for a 13-month tour. He received a Purple Heart among other military distinctions. After returning home, Carmen earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Jersey City State College, where he met the love of his life, Christina. He spent four decades working in airfreight and logistics sales. An avid sports fan, Carmen loved the Boston Red Sox and USC Trojans football. A history buff, he enjoyed reading about U.S. and military history.

Carmen is predeceased by his parents, Mike and Elvira (Tucci) Barbato; his cousin Peter Tucci; his brother-in-law Paul Pieslewicz; his nephew Adam Pieslewicz; and his beloved TV partner, Otis Redding the Cat.

Surviving him are his wife of 48 years, Christina (Pieslewicz) Barbato, and his children Michael and Lauren Barbato; his sister Evelyn (Barbato) Kersting and her husband Raymond; his sister-in-law Catherine (Babcock) Pieslewicz; and his nieces and nephews, Mary Kate Kersting, Laura Pieslewicz, David Pieslewicz, and Lee Ann Hernandez.

Visitation is Wednesday, May 21, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Holmdel Funeral Home, 26 S. Holmdel Road, Holmdel, N.J. Funeral Mass will take place at 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 22, at Saint Gabriel’s Historic Church, 549 Route 520, Marlboro, N.J.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate in Carmen’s memory to the Fisher House Foundation. Donations can be sent to 12300 Twinbrook Pkwy Suite 410, Rockville, MD 20852 or online at https://fisherhouse.org/get-involved/ways-to-give