Edward A. Barkowski

Edward A. Barkowski, 93, of Rotterdam, passed away peacefully on Saturday November 16, 2024, at Daughters of Sarah Nursing Home surrounded by his loving family. He was born on June 13, 1931, in Schenectady, the youngest of four children of the late William and Mary Brozowski Barkowski. He attended Nott Terrace High School and after graduation started working at GE.

It was love at first sight when he attended a dance and saw Virginia Marciniec. He often told the story of “The girl in the red dress” and how he mustered up the courage to ask her to dance. I think that is why his favorite color was red. Virginia was a widow with two young girls, but Ed wasn’t fazed and the two were married in 1956. The new family settled in Rotterdam and welcomed a third girl soon after.

After leaving GE he went to Albany Business College to learn about the upcoming new field of computers. He was one of two students hired by Blue Cross and Blue Shield from the graduating class of 1960. He excelled at that job and advanced over the years, becoming a senior computer programmer/analyst.

Besides work, he was very involved in the church, initially being part of his family’s Holy Cross church in the Stockade district. After the church dissolved, he became a member of St. Joseph’s church, being a weekly lector, preparing the holiday meals for the needy, sending clothes to Lithuania and making generous donations to his favorite charities.

His lifelong passion was gardening; every year he had an amazing vegetable garden in his backyard. After his retirement in 1991, he made good use of his time, staying active and enjoying life by being involved in outdoor hiking groups, Kiwanis Club and Knights of Lithuania. He loved traveling to National Parks and visiting his family in New Orleans, California, Greece, and England.

His beloved Virginia died in 2004 leaving him a widower. He relied even more on his family and the church during this time. He became good friends with George and Terry Glenn through the Kiwanis. Ed and Terry’s bond became stronger as they both lost their spouses. Ed is survived by his three daughters, Karen Vavourakis (Adam) of Athens, Greece; Sharon Sikora of New Orleans, and Susan Barkowski-Clark (Marty) of Connecticut; his companion Terry Glenn and his extended family Marc, Mary and Madison Glenn. He wanted to thank all of his amazing private health aides, especially Rachel DeLong and Joanne Vinciguerra, his wonderful next door neighbors Gary & Chris Philips and Noah Sausville; and the wonderful staff at Daughters of Sarah Nursing Home.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Ed’s family on Thursday from 4 to 6 pm at Jones Funeral Home, 2020 Central Ave., Colonie. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday at 12:15 at St. Joseph’s Church, 600 State St. Schenectady. Interment will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Rotterdam. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph’s Church, 225 Lafayette Street, Schenectady, NY 12305.