Alpio! - The Spectrum Magazine

From Malta to Redwood City
Alpio Barbara
Celebrates Life
and Gives Back
Valerie Harris
Special to The Spectrum
Photography by James R. Kaspar
R
edwood General Tire in Redwood City is
celebrating its 50th birthday this month.
But what do we know about the man behind the
company?
If ever there was a poster child for community
service, it’s Alpio Barbara (known to everyone
as just “Alpio”). He is a fit, trim, energetic
man with sparkling eyes and an abundance of
energy and devotion to his company and his
community.
Barbara was born in 1953 in Malta, a small
island in the center of the Mediterranean Sea.
Malta represents true old-world European values.
Barbara was one of seven children, all born at
home. His mother was a stay-at-home mom.
He recalls, “If you talked to her, she would tell
you that she worked, although the only job she
ever had was for three weeks. My grandfather,
her father, was really mad at her for working.
Women just didn’t work outside of the home.
She was there when we came home
and she made dinner every night. The
love was constantly there.”
When Barbara was 2 years old, his
father, a young merchant marine,
brought his family to the United States
through Ellis Island. The family settled
in San Francisco, where they lived for
the next twelve years before moving to
San Mateo. There, Barbara attended
Aragon High School, then studied
administration of justice at the College
of San Mateo. He wanted to be a cop, until a knee
injury thwarted that dream.
Barbara was always an enterprising and hardworking
kid. He worked in a stationery store and
also had a paper route. He attributes his business
acumen and work ethic to that paper route. He
said, “Working as a paperboy gave you great
business training. You have to be responsible. You
have to deliver the newspaper at a certain time.
I’ve always had a lot of responsibility in my life.
“I was one of seven children, and
we didn’t have the luxury that
children do now.”
I was one of seven children, and we didn’t have
the luxury that children do now. We didn’t have
the time to play after-school sports, which would
have been nice. But, being one of seven children,
if I wanted some spending money, I had to go
out and get it. It made me a bit more responsible.
It’s also the reason I am so involved with kids.
We never lacked food on the table or clothes,
but we didn’t have 15 toys or any excess.”
Barbara connects with kids who need a haven
for activities that more affluent kids can afford.
He believes in these kids and spends most of his
free time to help them.
As a young adult, Barbara lived at home and
turned over all his income to his parents, who
saved it for him. At 21, he had enough money
saved to buy his first house in San Carlos. He
moved to Redwood City in 1973 and has lived
and worked in the community ever since. He
currently lives in the West Oakwood neighborhood
near Selby Lane.
In 1969, when Barbara was 17 years old, he
started working for Al Howard of Howard Tire
Company. He started on the ground floor as a
tire mechanic, then became an auto mechanic.
He was promoted to assistant store manager,
then warehouse manager and then general
manager.
In May 1985, at the California State Tire Association
trade show, Barbara chatted with Dave
Redfern, whose father had started Redwood
General Tire in May 1957. After the trade show,
Redfern approached Barbara with hesitation,
figuring Barbara planned to stay put at Howard
Tire. But after some discussion about future
www.TheSpectrumMagazine.net