John Barbero
Encyclopedia
John Barbero was the longtime public address announcer for the Pittsburgh Penguins
of the National Hockey League
, a job he held for 36 years, Barbero also served as a principal for Waynesburg Central High School.
, During his tenure there, He also served as president of student council
, National Honor Society
treasurer, and College Club vice president and homeroom president, among other things. He also was a member of Boy's Octet, Chorale and Spanish Clubs.
John went to Grove City College
, where he majored in business administration. While at Grove City, he pursued a broadcasting career when he started working at the college radio station as well as a downtown FM station. In the summer of 1964, Barbero became employed by WESA radio in Charleroi, PA.
. In order to continue his radio career at WESA, John transferred to California University of Pennsylvania
.
While at WESA, Barbero served as play-by-play announcer for California Vulcans
football. He also became the stations's sports director
and would broadcast football and basketball matchups each week throughout the Monongahela Valley Area. John then moved to WEEP
radio in Pittsburgh to serve as the radio voice of the now-defunct Pittsburgh Pipers
of the American Basketball Association
. Due to traveling conflicts, Barbero took a hiatus from sports broadcasting. He decided to continue at California University, majoring in English while continuing his evening job with WESA. Soon after, Barbero hosted a weekly oldies
radio show that aired on Saturdays. the show received a thousand phone calls for requests each week. Because of the show's popularity, John became host of a daily oldies show from 5 p.m. until the station signed off for the night. While his radio career grew, Barbero soon took part at valley dances at several night spots. John was honored to work with many of the day's stars.
Barbero graduated from California University in 1969, He was then hired by Monongahela School District as an English teacher. He also was honored with a master's degree as a reading specialist. John continued with his education when he moved to Duquesne University, where he received his elementary certifications. Barbero continued his English teaching career until 1976, when he was assigned as an acting assistant principal at Carroll Junior High School. Later that year, he accepted the position as an assistant principal at Waynesburg Central High School. In 1978, he was hired as the school's principal and remained at Waynesburg until he retired in 2003.
. In 1963, John became the founder of the Roscoe Cairns Softball Team, During his time with the team, they captured a number of Monongahela Valley Slow Pitch championships. When the team's performance succeeded, John then formed a tournament team, which became popular throughout the nation. The team later rebranded as the California Eagles
and later Lee Supply. As a manager and player, the team finished second three years in a row in the world tournament and finished nine times as the top 10 team in the world. The teams success became well known throughout the world of softball and in honor of his many achievements, John became inducted into the Mid Mon Valley All Sports Hall of Fame on June 18, 2010. His father, the late Thomas Barbero, a longtime educator and sports official in the Mon Valley, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1958.
's Pittsburgh Penguins
hired John as the team's public address announcer for their games at the Civic Arena. He held the position until 2009 and his voice could be heard occasionally on television promos and advertisements. He was the first hockey PA announcer who added some fun and excitement to his job with many of his memorable calls, which included some of the most memorable plays of former Penguins captain (and now part team owner) Mario Lemieux
.
, an inoperable brain tumor
. Even though he continued his PA announcing duties with the Penguins during the 2008-09 NHL season as well as the team's successful run in the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs
, he was unable to work during the 2009-10 season and was filled in for by voiceover specialist Ryan Mill. Barbero died on July 26, 2010 at the age of 65. Mill has succeeded Barbero as of the 2010-11 season.
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
, a job he held for 36 years, Barbero also served as a principal for Waynesburg Central High School.
Career in education
Barbero was a 1963 graduate of California High SchoolCalifornia High School
California High School is one of two public high schools located in San Ramon . It is one of four high schools in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District. Its mascot is the Grizzly bear. The school's newspaper, The Californian, is published monthly...
, During his tenure there, He also served as president of student council
Student council
Student council is a curricular or extra-curricular activity for students within elementary and secondary schools around the world. Present in most public and private K-12 school systems across the United States, Canada and Australia these bodies are alternatively entitled student council, student...
, National Honor Society
National Honor Society
The National Honor Society is a recognition program for high school students in grades 10-12 in the United States and in several other countries...
treasurer, and College Club vice president and homeroom president, among other things. He also was a member of Boy's Octet, Chorale and Spanish Clubs.
John went to Grove City College
Grove City College
Grove City College is a Christian liberal arts college in Grove City, Pennsylvania, about north of Pittsburgh. According to the College Bulletin, its stated three-fold mission is to provide an excellent education at an affordable price in a thoroughly Christian environment...
, where he majored in business administration. While at Grove City, he pursued a broadcasting career when he started working at the college radio station as well as a downtown FM station. In the summer of 1964, Barbero became employed by WESA radio in Charleroi, PA.
Charleroi
Charleroi is a city and a municipality of Wallonia, located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. , the total population of Charleroi was 201,593. The metropolitan area, including the outer commuter zone, covers an area of and had a total population of 522,522 as of 1 January 2008, ranking it as...
. In order to continue his radio career at WESA, John transferred to California University of Pennsylvania
California University of Pennsylvania
California University of Pennsylvania is a public university located in California, Pennsylvania, USA. Founded in 1852, it is a member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Cal U's enrollment is approximately 9,400.The main campus consists of about 38 buildings situated on 92 acres...
.
While at WESA, Barbero served as play-by-play announcer for California Vulcans
California Vulcans
California University of Pennsylvania's intercollegiate sports teams and players are called the "Vulcans" , and participate in the NCAA's Division II in all sports and the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference in most sports. The school colors are Red, Black, and White...
football. He also became the stations's sports director
Sports Director
A sports director is an individual at a television or radio station who is in charge of the sports department. In local news, the sports director is typically the station's primary sportscaster, and often anchors the primetime newscasts on weekdays. They are in charge of sports programming and...
and would broadcast football and basketball matchups each week throughout the Monongahela Valley Area. John then moved to WEEP
WWNL
WWNL is a Christian radio station based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The station, which is owned by Steel City Radio, Inc., broadcasts at 1080 kHz with a power of 50,000 watts daytime .- History :...
radio in Pittsburgh to serve as the radio voice of the now-defunct Pittsburgh Pipers
Pittsburgh Condors
The Pittsburgh Condors were a professional basketball team in the original American Basketball Association. Originally called the Pittsburgh Pipers, they were a charter franchise of the ABA...
of the American Basketball Association
American Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:...
. Due to traveling conflicts, Barbero took a hiatus from sports broadcasting. He decided to continue at California University, majoring in English while continuing his evening job with WESA. Soon after, Barbero hosted a weekly oldies
Oldies
Oldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day....
radio show that aired on Saturdays. the show received a thousand phone calls for requests each week. Because of the show's popularity, John became host of a daily oldies show from 5 p.m. until the station signed off for the night. While his radio career grew, Barbero soon took part at valley dances at several night spots. John was honored to work with many of the day's stars.
Barbero graduated from California University in 1969, He was then hired by Monongahela School District as an English teacher. He also was honored with a master's degree as a reading specialist. John continued with his education when he moved to Duquesne University, where he received his elementary certifications. Barbero continued his English teaching career until 1976, when he was assigned as an acting assistant principal at Carroll Junior High School. Later that year, he accepted the position as an assistant principal at Waynesburg Central High School. In 1978, he was hired as the school's principal and remained at Waynesburg until he retired in 2003.
Involvement in softball
Barbero was also actively involved in the sport of softballSoftball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
. In 1963, John became the founder of the Roscoe Cairns Softball Team, During his time with the team, they captured a number of Monongahela Valley Slow Pitch championships. When the team's performance succeeded, John then formed a tournament team, which became popular throughout the nation. The team later rebranded as the California Eagles
California Eagles
The California Eagles are an American Basketball Association 2005 expansion franchise serving the Santa Barbara and Ventura counties in Southern California. The team is a recent addition to the league , which has many teams in California....
and later Lee Supply. As a manager and player, the team finished second three years in a row in the world tournament and finished nine times as the top 10 team in the world. The teams success became well known throughout the world of softball and in honor of his many achievements, John became inducted into the Mid Mon Valley All Sports Hall of Fame on June 18, 2010. His father, the late Thomas Barbero, a longtime educator and sports official in the Mon Valley, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1958.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Even though he retired from radio in 1973, Barbero remained in the announcing business. The NHLNational Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
's Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
hired John as the team's public address announcer for their games at the Civic Arena. He held the position until 2009 and his voice could be heard occasionally on television promos and advertisements. He was the first hockey PA announcer who added some fun and excitement to his job with many of his memorable calls, which included some of the most memorable plays of former Penguins captain (and now part team owner) Mario Lemieux
Mario Lemieux
Mario Lemieux, OC, CQ is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He is acknowledged to be one of the best players of all time. He played 17 seasons as a forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League between 1984 and 2006...
.
Brain Tumor, 2009–10 season, and death
In February 2009, Barbero was diagnosed with AstrocytomaAstrocytoma
Astrocytomas are a type of neoplasm of the brain. They originate in a particular kind of glial-cells, star-shaped brain cells in the cerebrum called astrocytes. This type of tumor does not usually spread outside the brain and spinal cord and it does not usually affect other organs...
, an inoperable brain tumor
Brain tumor
A brain tumor is an intracranial solid neoplasm, a tumor within the brain or the central spinal canal.Brain tumors include all tumors inside the cranium or in the central spinal canal...
. Even though he continued his PA announcing duties with the Penguins during the 2008-09 NHL season as well as the team's successful run in the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs
2009 Stanley Cup playoffs
The 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs of the National Hockey League began on April 15, 2009, after the 2008–09 regular season. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference , play a best-of-seven series for the conference quarterfinals, semifinals and championships, and...
, he was unable to work during the 2009-10 season and was filled in for by voiceover specialist Ryan Mill. Barbero died on July 26, 2010 at the age of 65. Mill has succeeded Barbero as of the 2010-11 season.