Gardnerville Ranchos resident David Anthony LaBarbara died Dec. 4, 2009. He was 61.
Mr. LaBarbara was born Feb. 10, 1948, in Springfield, Ill., to Anthony and Delores E. (Lawson) LaBarbara. He attended elementary and high school in Boulder City, Nev.
He graduated from Carson High School in 1966 and was awarded one of the appointments to the U. S. Military Academy at West Point.
He attended Washington University at St. Louis, Mo., for a year and took a leave.
Mr. LaBarbara went into the U.S. Army and served in Vietnam. He was discharged at the rank of sergeant and was awarded the Bronze Star and letter of commendation for his service.
He was employed by Carson City at the water treatment facility until February 1980 when he was hired as plant superintendent at the Minden-Gardnerville Sanitation District. He held that position until his retirement in August 2005.
Mr. LaBarbara was an avid cross-country ski racer and bicycle enthusiast, enjoying road and mountain biking.
He was a certified Transcendental Meditation teacher and attended two training classes in Spain taught by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the founder of the TM movement and technique.
Mr. LaBarbara is survived by his daughter Priyanka Varni and grandchildren Mason Martin and Nattalia Varni; brother Kevin LaBarbara and sister Christina Bryant, nieces and nephews.
Autumn Funerals & Cremations was in charge of arrangements.
