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Mostly Cloudy Fred Barraza, 'One of the great guys'
Clarke alumnus, 33, died in crash on Carman Avenue
When their parents died unexpectedly in 1998, the three Barraza brothers — Fred, Alan and Kevin were on their own.
Fred, the elder brother, 21 years old at the time and a college student, took command. It was a quite the responsibility. Though Alan was two years younger, Kevin was a toddler and there was still a house to sustain.
Twelve years later, the Barraza brothers endured another tragedy. This time it was one of them.
On Nov. 11, just 12 days before his 34th birthday, Fred Barraza died shortly after his car crashed into a tree off of Carman Avenue in Salisbury at 2 a.m. The only passenger, his cousin Jose Valdevenito, 35, of Westbury, suffered from serious head trauma and was listed in critical but stable condition at the Nassau University Medical Center early this week.
Cars could be seen lined up at a family home in Salisbury last Friday as the news broke out about Barraza’s death.
“We can’t believe it,” said Scott Martin, a close friend. “He was one of the great guys.”
Martin forged a friendship with Barraza as a teammate on Clarke High School’s football and basketball teams. They maintained a friendship that grew even stronger when the Barraza brothers lost their parents. With guidance and help from their uncle and aunt Victor and Alicia Araya and a long line of friends, cousins and other family members, the Barraza brothers continued on.
Despite the challenges Fred Barraza faced as a young man, he never looked for sympathy.
“Through a lot of struggles, Fred never worried and never complained,” Martin said. “He was never anxious or nervous. He was ready to take on anything and had the greatest attitude.
“His attitude was to live life the best we can and appreciate what we have,” Martin added.
Barraza was born in Chile, and moved to America with Alan and his parents as a toddler. He lived in Salisbury for most of his life, and later moved to Williston Park when he married his wife, Allison.
While helping to raise his kid brother, Kevin, Fred had a son of his own, Jake, now six years old. Kevin is now a junior at Kellenberg Memorial High School.
