BARRE TOWN In the days since Don Babic died on June 17, notes and messages from people near and far have poured in, remembering him as a patriarch, their favorite uncle, in-law, friend. He was our favorite person, our Number 1, and his life ended at 73, far too soon after a brief but brave battle with pancreatic cancer. In the end, he was at home, surrounded by his loving family. Donald Conrad Babic was born July 1, 1943 in Burlington, the first born of Rico and Jeannette (Pinard) Babic's five children. Don grew up on Pearl Street in Montpelier and attended St. Michael's Grade and High schools. He met his future wife, Sharon K. (Breer) Babic, at a high school basketball game when they were 16. Sharon knew Don was a good catch because he was the only boy there who didn't pick on her. Both devoted to their faith, Don and Sharon's first date was to a movie and Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve 1960. Don graduated from Champlain College in 1964 with a bachelor's degree in accounting. In January 1965, Don and Sharon bought their first home on Clarenden Avenue in Montpelier. The four-apartment unit started the couple's venture as landlords, a business known as LCJ Properties. Don was also part of the Vermont Apartment Owners Association. Don and Sharon married May 22, 1965 at St. Augustine's in Montpelier. They honeymooned on a $80 shoestring budget, bringing their best friends, Rich and Ginny Garand, on the three-day trip to Washington, D.C. Their daughter, Lisa, was born on their first anniversary. Corey followed in June 1969, and Jason in March 1971. By this time, Don had graduated from Plymouth State College with a bachelor's degree in business administration. Don worked as an accountant for Capital Candy Co. and for Andy Prahl and in 1972 became owner and partner of Healthcare Services, Inc. and Commercial Services. In 1985, he and Sharon bought AM/PM Market in Barre, changing its name to North End Deli Mart, but family and friends called it The Store. He was respected as an honest and fair businessman. Through this tie to the community, he and Sharon made many friends and fond memories. They retired in 2002 at age 58, allowing Don more time to putter around camp at Lake Groton and play pickleball at their winter home in Sarasota, Fla. Don was everyone's favorite handyman and helper. He was known for "MacGyvering" just about everything around the house but had a signature habit of reversing the hot and cold when installing sinks. He liked his toys and had snow-machines, four-wheelers and classic cars, including his '71 Corvette Stingray, which earned him membership into the Corvette Club of Vermont. He was an avid bowler, enjoyed NASCAR and rooted for the Red Sox and New York Giants. He could otherwise be found cruising around the lake on his pontoon boat with a floppy bucket hat protecting his bald head. He was a bit of a rascal, but you could tell when he was fibbing by the crows' feet that formed in the corners of his eyes. He was always good for his secret stash of peanut M&Ms, and he had a knack for showing up just in time for birthday cake. Don was endearingly known as "Bumpa" to his three granddaughters, Courtney, Caitlyn and Harlow and to many of their friends. To his siblings, children and granddaughters, he was a role model and leader. Don was a man of few words, but he didn't need them to teach his children and grandchildren the importance of honesty, loyalty, dependability and kindness. Rather, he led by example. He is survived by his wife, Sharon Babic, of Barre Town; his daughter, Lisa (Babic) Lamdin, of Barre Town; sons Corey Babic and his wife, Leslie, of Barre Town and Jason Babic and his wife Indira, of Alexandria, Va.; granddaughters Courtney Lamdin of Winooski, Caitlyn Lamdin of Seattle, Wash. and Harlow Babic of Alexandria, Va.; brothers Thomas Babic and his wife, Linda, of Washington and Lawrence Babic and his wife, Patty Joslyn, of Fort Bragg, Calif.; and his sisters Sandra Sundarabhaya and her husband, Nopadon, of Burlington and Susan Gill and her husband, Howard, of Carlton, Or. Who loves ya, Bumpa? We do. You'll be missed immeasurably. Calling hours will be held at Guare and Sons Funeral Home in Montpelier on Thursday, June 22 from 6 to 8 p.m. A memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. Monica Parish in Barre, on Friday, June 23 at 11 a.m. with interment following at Green Mount Cemetery in Montpelier. A reception will be held at a location to be determined. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to either the St. Monica-St. Michael Catholic School, 79 Summer St., Barre, VT 05641 or to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network at bit.ly/2mkayt9 in memory of Don Babic.