NEWPORT – Albert Franklin Barrows Jr., 80, was peacefully taken home to the Lord on Saturday, August 10, 2024, with his family by his side. He was born on Feb. 13, 1944, in New Britain, Conn., a son of Albert Franklin Barrows Sr., and Lucy Anne Yablonski Barrows, and was one of two children.

Albert grew up in Plainville, Conn.. He went to high school at Plainville High School where he met the love of his life, Valerie, in their high school biology class. During high school, Albert and three of his friends started a rock ‘n roll band, ‘The Four Grades’; with Albert on the drums. They played for many weddings, parties and clubs.

Albert and his wife Valerie bought a house in Terryville, Conn., where they began their family. They restored the house and it can now be found on the historical register. Albert and Valerie, along with several other couples, started The Creative Learning Center in Connecticut in 1972 where their children attended school in their early years.

Albert and Valerie moved from Bristol, Conn. to St. Albans with their lifelong friends Tom and Lynn Roach, along with their five children combined, Heather and Emily Barrows, and Michael, Christopher and Jamie Roach. The two families owned and operated the St. Albans General Store “SAGS” from 1976 to 1993. This was a gathering place for the community.

Albert and Valerie began collecting antiques when they were 15. Over the years, they participated in hundreds of antique shows, buying and selling antiques. You would most often find them with their booth set up next to their dear friends Joe Spaider and Joni Lima.

Throughout his life, Albert was known by many as “The Renaissance Man.” Albert found love in restoring antique cars, drag racing, cooking for his family, building houses and raising and hunting with Beagles. He retired early to help his daughter Emily and her husband Patrick raise their two daughters, Mia and Sophia. Together, Albert and Valerie would bring the girls to and from school, and to and from dance. They would also cook dinner for them, take them to appointments, help them with homework, and nurture them when they were sick.

Albert built a home from the ground up in Pemaquid, Maine, on a lot nearby Joe and Joni. This home is known to his family as “The Cottage.” Albert displayed many of his personal art pieces and treasured antiques in the cottage. This has been a fond gathering spot for the family over the years.

Albert and Valerie enjoyed going to church with their daughters Heather and Emily Barrows, then later in life with their granddaughters. His favorite thing to do was to go to their cottage and walk on the beach. He and Valerie were avid readers and enjoyed going to the local library in Pemaquid to find a good read.

He is survived by his daughter Emily (Barrows) Cianchette and husband Patrick; granddaughters Mia and Sophia Cianchette and Patrice (Cianchette) Witham, husband Justin; two great-grandsons, Dominick and Connor Witham; sister, Melinda (Barrows) Rogers; cousins, nephews, and nieces from Connecticut and Massachusetts. He also leaves behind very dear friends, Joe Spaider, Joni Lima, Lynn Roach, Shari Fredette, and many others.

He was predeceased by his parents, Albert Barrows Sr. and Lucy Barrows; loving wife, Valerie Barrows; daughter, Heather Barrows.

A memorial mass will be celebrated on Friday, August 23, 2024, at 12 p.m., at St. Agnes Catholic Church, 238 Detroit Ave, Pittsfield, ME 04967. A gathering will follow in the Parish Hall and all are welcome.

To leave a message of kindness for the family or to share a memory, please visit www.shoreynichols.com.

Care has been provided by Shorey-Nichols Funeral Home, Pittsfield, Maine.

In lieu of flowers,

donations may be made to:

Pemaquid Point

Lighthouse

3115 Bristol Rd.

New Harbor, ME 04554