Randy Baribeau

PACIFIC GROVE, Calif. - If you'd had a short conversation with Randy Baribeau, no doubt you would learn that he was married for 31 years to Mary, and that they had a son named Aaron, whom Randy often called "Sunshine." He would certainly mention that he had just finished serving as president of the Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula Recovery Center Alumni board, and that he hadn't taken an alcoholic drink in almost five years.

Even in that brief conversation he'd pay homage to his home state of Wisconsin, where his parents, Marilyn and Arthur, resided in the town of Saxon. He is also survived by his siblings, Denys and Dennis, also of Wisconsin. You may have noticed that he was wearing either green and yellow to represent his beloved Green Bay Packers, or red to symbolize the Wisconsin Badgers.

If there was an auto race in town, your conversation with Randy would have taken place at Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway, where he was a SCRAMP assistant director for almost two decades. He would never shy away from discussing his rocky past, so that he could remind you that with hope and faith you can overcome anything through the Lord.

Randy passed away peacefully at CHOMP due to pulmonary issues and complications following surgery. Even in his courageous final hours, Randy acknowledged the wonderful turnaround his life had taken and the many lives he impacted by having the heart to help others with the same struggles. He was proud that he walked his son down the aisle in May when Aaron married Whitney. Randy smiled broadly when, in his final moments, he was shown the wedding photo.

Randy would want you to know that his purpose in life has been fulfilled, and he was looking down on all of us from Heaven, without the worries of this world.

A celebration of Randy's life will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 1, at Calvary Chapel, 3001 Monterey-Salinas Highway, in Monterey. Friends are welcome to share stories and remembrances.

Donations may be made in his memory to the CHOMP Recovery Center Alumni board, 163 Pebble Place, Marina, CA 93933 or to a charity of the donor's choice.