Ralph "Butch" Barracano
Ralph (Butch) Barracano passed on July 20, 2011 in Ceret, France. He was born on February 9, 1947 in Phillipsburg, Pennsylvania to Dorothy Sue (Bartlow) and Henry (Hank) Barracano.
When he was just a year old, the family moved to Tulsa, OK. There, he attended school, played Little League baseball and was a Cub Scout. His two sisters, Susan and Linda were added to the family during the Tulsa years.
When he was nine, his father was offered a job with the Arabian American Oil Company (ARAMCO). This entailed moving to New York, where he continued his athletic and scouting activities and began his life-long interest in philately (stamp collecting). In 1959, he began his adventure with the family moving to Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia. He graduated from junior high in 1962. He attended the American Community School (ACS) in Beirut, Lebanon, graduating in 1966. During his time at ACS he was the lead in two musical plays: Oklahoma! and West Side Story.
At the height of the Vietnam War, he enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corps and served with the Third Marine Division in Quong Tri Province. Upon his return to the States, he attended Washington University in St. Louis, MO, and received his BA. Subsequently, he received an MA from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee and an MBA from Oklahoma University.
In 1977, he decided to follow in his father's foot steps, and joined ARAMCO. He completed 23 years of service and retired in 2000. While there, he was active in many extra-curricular activities. He was involved in the Stamp Club, of course. He served on the Library Committee for many years; he bowled; and played competitive softball well into his fifties. However, his greatest passion was Stati-matic Football at which his knowledge of statistics and football made him a champion. In fact, he and his fellow players were so crazy about this board game that they played many hours at the ARAMCO reunions to the consternation of their mates and parents. He had a passion for politics and loved to debate, but also loved to make people laugh.
In 1985, he married the love of his life, Marie - Claire Jamar, a Belgian girl. They always seemed very happy together. During his final illness she was a care giver par-excellence. Of course, she is also a great gourmet cook, and he loved to eat.
Upon retirement from ARAMCO, they moved to their home in Ceret, France, which they had purchased some years before. He did some consulting work for a few years travelling back to Saudi Arabia, the UK and the US. They did quite a bit of travelling for pleasure as well.
Ralph was predeceased by his mother in 2010. He is survived by his wife, Marie-Claire of Ceret, France; his father Henry (Hank) of Houston TX and his sisters, Susan Ratterree of New Orleans, LA: and Linda Swartz of Sarasota, FL. Also many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews remain to reflect on a great life.