Vincenzo Barbuto

Vincenzo Barbuto of Hull passed away peacefully on November 3, 2024, at home, surrounded by his family. He was 92. Born on May 18, 1932, in the quaint town of Palermiti in Calabria, Italy, Vincenzo was the son of the late Martino and Elizabetta Barbuto. He was a devoted husband to Marianna (Spadea) Barbuto for 63 years and a cherished father, grandfather, and friend to many. 

He spent much of his career building boats at Boston Whaler’s headquarters in Rockland. In 1972, Vincenzo made the journey to the United States, choosing Hull as the place to raise his family and become a beloved member of a close-knit Italian community. Known for his warmth, work ethic, and love of family, he instilled these values in his children, nurturing their appreciation for life’s simple joys. Affectionately called “the Nonno,” Vincenzo was a man of many passions. He rooted faithfully for the soccer team Inter Milan, delighted in playing the Italian card game Briscola, and entertained his family with his spirited reaction to losing scratch tickets. Each evening, he watched the Italian soap opera “Un posto al sole” alongside his wife, and he had a fondness for the antics of Jack Tripper on the old sitcom “Three’s Company.” 

Vincenzo was also a practical man: the family’s keeper of batteries and calendars and an unerring weather forecaster. But he truly enjoyed getting his hands dirty in his garden, a place he tended with pride each year. Marked with a homemade scarecrow and a sign that read “Nonno’s Garden,” it was where he planted rows of peas, cucumbers, potatoes, and more. He loved the simple routine of working the soil and watching his plants thrive. An annual tradition close to his heart was making wine each Columbus Day weekend, a ritual he shared with family and friends and savored throughout the year. However, Christmas was when Vincenzo’s spirit shone brightest. He was the first on F Street to adorn his home top to bottom with festive lights and decorations, climbing a ladder well into his eighties to spread holiday cheer. Inside, he created an elaborate manger scene that his grandchildren adored. Sundays were sacred family days. He spent them in his favorite rocking chair beside the wood-burning stove, sharing a pasta dinner with his children and grandchildren—always with a big bowl of pasta and a can of beer. As a proud grandfather, he babysat each grandchild on a strict schedule: a 3 p.m. banana followed by a walk in the stroller around the neighborhood. For decades, Vincenzo attended the annual Festa della Madonna della Luce in Hingham each Labor Day weekend, honoring his faith and keeping a watchful eye on the life-sized statue of the Mother of Light. 

Vincenzo is survived by his devoted sons, Enzo Barbuto and his wife, Cynthia, and Bruno Barbuto, all of Hull, along with Domenico Barbuto and his wife, Dana, of Norwell. He leaves four cherished grandsons: Bruno, Luca, Dante, and Dominic Barbuto. He also leaves behind his sister, Vincenza, of Palermiti, Italy, and is predeceased by his brother, Bruno. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to visiting hours on Thursday, November 7, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Pyne Keohane Funeral Home, 21 Emerald St., Hingham. A Celebration of Life will be held at the funeral home at 9:15AM on Friday November 8th, followed by a Funeral Mass to be celebrated at St. Mary of the Assumption Church at 10:30AM, 208 Samoset St., Hull, immediately followed by burial at Hull Cemetery.