Sacco, Barbara Bond

Barbara Ellen Bond Sacco was born July 5, 1931 in Oswego, NY. She was predeceased by her parents Harold and Francis Ellen Bond and her brother Harold “Buck” Bond. She’s survived by her loving husband of 66 years, Rocco, her three children, Richard ( Ruth ) Sacco, Susan ( Glenn ) Baker, Janet ( Sterling ) Gallagher, Her twelve grandchildren Amy Formicola, Greg ( Jodi ) Sacco, Jennifer ( Craig ) McMullen, Elizabeth Ludian, Benjamin ( Riley ) Sacco, Melissa ( Jess ) Peters, Barbara ( Matt ) Hjelmhaug, Caroline ( Mike ) Ingram, Frankie ( Felicia ) Ambrosini, Conor (Abby ) Gallagher, Katherine Gallagher, Patrick (Jessie ) Gallagher and 32 Great-Grandchildren.

Barbara was “Bobbie” to her forever Oswego friends, Jane Hall, Mary Jane Lisk and Shirley Ottman. She grew up riding horses and competing in horse shows as her Dad was a riding instructor. She Graduated from Oswego High School with a college entrance degree and pursued her education at Rochester Business Institute. It was in Rochester that she met the man of her dreams, Rocco on a bus ride to Neisner Offices where she as employed. They married January 20th, 1951.Together they raised three children and built a manufacturing business, Radax Industries. Barbara was Vice-President/ Secretary Treasurer       She was an incredibly gifted interior designer. Barbara taught classes and was an interior designer for the Colonial Galleries. She as an amazing hostess and entertained family, friends and neighbors. Her parties were often themed events, always fun, memorable and beautifully decorated. Barbara loved her gardens and will be forever remembered carefully tending them.

She so loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and they her. They have many joyous memories of trips abroad with her, Holidays and of Barbara and Rocco’s farm ” Song Hill”

Barbara is survived by many nieces and nephews including James ( Tina ) Bond who was like a second son to her.

Barbara went home to be with the Lord in her home surrounded by her loving husband and family.

Barbara was dearly loved and will be sorely missed.

In 1981, after a long search, Barbara and Rocco purchased a 48 acre parcel of land with an old barn on in it, in Victor, NY. Barbara often said that her father was an incredible horseman, one of the best ever and that this trait was passed on to her brother Buck, who then passed it onto his son, her nephew, Jimmy. Her own son, Ricky was an avid skier who frequented Song Mountain – a name she admired. And, since this property in Victor was teeming with song birds, she decided to name it Song Hill Farm.

 

And so this plot of land became a family farm. They built another barn later that year and Jimmy and his horse breeding and training business (Song Hill Thoroughbreds) moved into the farm. For the next 25 years horses roamed the farm’s pastures and produced offspring that would win many races across the country including the Breeder’s Cup.

 

Meanwhile, Barbara and Rocco put in gardens and flower beds and lavender plants and added another barn. And Song Hill Farm touched all of our extended families lives. Ricky helped with the horses. The Grandchildren learned to ride the horses, or helped clear paddocks and erect and paint fences, or learned to drive tractors and mow the hay fields, or helped plant flowers, lay mulch and weed. So many of the grandchildren and great grandchildren have memories of the farm: hay rides, weddings, birthday parties, bon fires, driving the golf carts around with abandon, feeding the horses, catching fish and frogs and snakes and turtles, eating wild raspberries.

 

Even thought the horses moved away to larger pastures in 2006 and the farm shrunk down to 31 acres, Barbara and Rocco continued to work to keep it alive and make a place for family to enjoy. They planted Christmas trees, fruit trees and flowering trees for sale along with dried lavender, quilts and antiques. In 2010, they planted a small plot of grapevines, not yet knowing that in 2012, they would open up the farm again to a very different business, letting their grandson, Conor, start a winery.  Where horses once roamed there are now over 500 young vines planted. Where mares once gave birth over 17,000 bottles of wine and over 200 bottles of grape jam have been produced.

 

And still, the great grandchildren have their adventures in the beautiful landscape of Song Hill Farm. And the family still comes to help plant vines or bottle wine or simply relax under the awning of the Big Barn and drink a glass of wine. Song Hill Farm continues on today exactly how Barbara first imagined it in 1981: a family farm where all are welcome and drawn together for special family gatherings. A family farm where all of us and our children have fond memories and continue make new ones. A family farm that continues to touch all our lives.