I met Mr. LaBarge when I was a kid. He visited my home in North Hatfield to, "work on the pipes," he said. He was there to install a new kitchen faucet. "Ish," short for Ish Kabibble, as he was known, was an all around fix-it man type with a gruff exterior. He and my late father were longtime friends so Ish was helping him out. That faucet is still in use today some thirty-five years later.
When I was in my early twenties I had the pleasure of working with Ish at a manufacturing facility in Leeds. Though our tenure working together was not all that lengthy, he remembered me fondly for some reason as the years went by. I surmise his affection for my father had something to do with it but I remember always finding humor in his quips and queries.
When he spoke I never knew when he was looking at me directly because he suffered an eye injury during his World War II service, service for which he was awarded a Purple Heart. When I asked him about the injury he said it happened because he didn't move quickly enough. I learned later that Ish was a genuine war hero, though the details of his service have faded in my memory. I do remember him telling me that at one point he was sealed below deck on a ship that sustained damage and he surmised his mortality was in question. His actions during that time saved many lives according to his recollection and I believe the harrowing experience led to his take-no-prisoners approach to the Northampton City Council. Ray did not fear much.
Ish was a quick study and promptly measured up situations and took action when he thought it was needed though various infirmities robbed him of his effectiveness in recent years. To his credit his big heart kept him going after the passing of his wife as he devoted himself to civic duty and remained active in the community.
Ray realized that politics is a dynamic business and that one could be allied with members of a cause one day and adversarial with them the next when the issues changed. Even when political defeat was certain, Ray basically stuck to his guns until the end. He was definitely someone to have at your back as long as you did not double-cross him. He understood opposition and disagreement, but did not care for it when those attributes were combined with back room deals he was not a party to. If he was pushed out of the loop Ray stood resilient and sought other resources and worked with what he had to work with.
LaBarge's falling out with City Council President James Dostal over committee appointments during his final term in office hurt his feelings and he said their relationship was never the same. But he didn't give up, rather he found another way to function. To me that was perhaps his most enduring trait and one for others to emulate. He stood true to himself and because of that I hope he rests peacefully.
I will miss his voice on the council. A true independent who worked for the betterment of the city and his constituents Ish was not a polished politician. He was however a strong voice until the end and it's likely we've seen the last of his kind for awhile.
Thanks for the memories Ish.
