Paul Eric Barabasz, 50, beloved husband, father, stepfather, brother, and friend, passed away after a remarkable six-year battle with cancer. He leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter, resilience, and genuine kindness that will continue to live on in everyone who knew him.
Born and raised in Maryland, Paul attended Calvert Hall College High School before continuing his education at Barton College, where he played baseball. Baseball was one of his first loves, teaching him the perseverance, commitment, and teamwork that would shape the man he became.
Paul found his passion in sales and business development. He had an extraordinary ability to build genuine relationships, making everyone he met feel valued. During some of his hardest days, work gave him purpose, fulfillment, and the opportunity to continue doing what he loved most, connecting with people.
To know Paul was to know joy.
He was generous, thoughtful, endlessly funny, resilient beyond measure, and so full of life. He never entered a room quietly. His bright blue eyes, infectious laugh, unmistakable smile, and larger-than-life personality drew people in instantly. Beneath that joyful spirit was a gentle, deeply caring man who always put others before himself. Whether he was telling a joke, offering encouragement, or simply taking the time to ask about someone's day, Paul had a rare gift for making people feel seen.
Paul met the love of his life, Nadia, during the pandemic, at a time when the world felt uncertain. From the very beginning, they found comfort and strength in each other through a deep connection that was immediate and truly special. Just two months after they met, Paul was diagnosed with cancer. Together, they chose to focus on the life they were building and the moments they could create. Their time together was filled with love, laughter, and adventure. They traveled to places they dreamed of seeing, got married, and found joy in both the big moments and the simple ones- talking for hours, laughing together, and simply being side by side. They lived and loved fully, creating a love story defined not by the time they had, but by the love they shared.
Paul's children, Tyler and Hunter, were the center of his world, and there was nothing he wouldn't have done for them. He was endlessly proud of them and had a steady, unwavering love that gave them the confidence to know they could always count on him. His greatest wish was simply to see them happy, and he hoped his love, guidance, and example would remain with them always. He also embraced his stepchildren, Griffin and Tessa, as his own, loving them wholeheartedly and becoming a constant source of encouragement, support, and unconditional love in their lives. Paul also shared a special bond with his sister, Wendy, whose fierce love and protectiveness remained a constant throughout his life.
Paul is survived by his beloved wife, Nadia; his cherished children, Tyler and Hunter; his treasured stepchildren, Tessa and Griffin; his loving sister, Wendy, and her husband, John; his niece, Megan; his nephew, JJ; his parents; and many cousins, friends, and colleagues whose lives were touched by knowing him.
A private celebration of life will be held in the future.
To honor Paul’s lifelong love of baseball, education, and helping others, Nadia has established the Paul Barabasz Memorial Scholarship at Barton College to support future student-athletes. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Paul Barabasz Memorial Scholarship at Barton College or to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Paul's memory.
Paul's final wish was simple: celebrate his life rather than his death. Those who knew him know there is no better way to honor him. May we continue to tell his stories, share his laughter, and live with the same resilience, kindness, and generosity that defined his extraordinary life.
