Constance "Connie" Babcock

Constance (Connie) Babcock passed away on December 27, 2025, at 99 years of age. Concettina was her given name, and she was born at home in Batavia, NY on November 23, 1926, a daughter of Joseph and Maria Rapisarda Barbagallo. Her parents had migrated from Santa Maria di Licodia, Catania, Sicily in 1913.

Connie was a 1944 graduate of Batavia High School. While she waited for her high school sweetheart, Joseph (Joe) Rotondo, to come home from serving his country during World War II, she worked at Curtiss-Wright making aviation parts for the war effort and for the Pies family at Max Pies Furniture. Connie and Joe married in 1947 and Joe soon became the plant manager of Batavia Coca-Cola and Connie became the office manager. In 1956 they built a house on Clinton St. Rd. with a nine-hole golf course in their backyard. Golf became a passion for their nine-year-old son, Nicholas, who would play golf every moment of every summer day. In 1971, the golf course’s owner, Parker C. Terry, extended to them an offer to buy the golf course, and they accepted! Continuing to work their day jobs, they constantly improved and expanded the golf course over the years. Terry Hills has now been owned by the Rotondo family for 55 years thanks to Connie’s vision and influence.

At age 50, a new love came into Connie’s life, Sherman (Sherm) F. Babcock, a practicing attorney in Batavia (first with his father George and later with his son Daniel). They were married in 1977 and became resident “snowbirds” in Sun City Center, Florida for 30 years, immersing themselves in their community, volunteering at church and charities in the Tampa and Sarasota area. They enjoyed a membership at the Caloosa Golf and Country Club and at one time Connie was president of the Ladies Golf Association. They also belonged to several bridge clubs and traveled extensively in the United States, Canada, and Europe. In addition to their home in Florida, they kept a residence in Batavia and a summer home on Lake Ontario in Hilton, NY. This allowed them to reconnect every summer with their children, grandchildren and the family business.

Due to Sherm’s worsening polio-related disability, they returned to Batavia where Connie devoted her life to caring for him until his death in 2006. After her husband’s passing, Connie again immersed herself in the family business. She loved playing golf with her daughter, Mary, in the Tuesday night golf league and helped get the senior’s golf league off at 7AM every Friday morning. She loved working in her yard and enjoyed many delightful days of bridge with new and old friends. When her children built Terry Hills’ new restaurant and banquet facility in 2005, Connie worked as a hostess greeting guests and helping in the kitchen until she was “fired” at the age of 91!

In her century of life, Connie saw the Great Depression, several wars, a near life-altering car accident, and COVID-19 (which she survived multiple times). Connie became a proud mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, seeing her great grandchildren grow old enough to drive, play football and get married.

Connie reported she had no regrets in life. Fiercely independent and sharp-witted, she was as unapologetically strong as she was business-savvy. Never one for small talk, Connie’s quick comebacks and dry humor stayed with her until the very end. While she was feisty and fearless, she was also warm and loved meeting people at Terry Hills. She was always dressed in high fashion and never missed her weekly hair appointment. Connie was a woman ahead of her time. She was fascinated by finance, unafraid to talk stocks, and eager to build a business when few women were encouraged to do so. Connie even wrote this obituary many years ago! Although she was tiny in stature, she was mighty in spirit. Our matriarch will be missed greatly. 

She is survived by her son Nicholas J. (the late Ellen M. Simkulet) Rotondo, daughter Mary Elizabeth (the late Thomas) Brown, daughter-in-law Annette L. Rotondo, grandchildren Lauren Nicole Kondo, Danielle Valle (Jessica Ecock) Rotondo, Casey Ryan Brown, Natalie Rae (and fiancé Zachary Ozog) Brown, and great-grandchildren Veronica Milan Kondo, and Grant Nicholas Kondo. She is also survived by stepchildren, Daniel (Grace) Babcock, Thomas (Annie) Babcock, John (Kathy) Babcock, and Mary E. (John) Hilderbrandt and step-grandchildren, Judy (Dan) Hayes, Stephen (Carolyn) Babcock, Michael (Selma) Babcock, Jason (Sarah) Babcock, Daniel (Monique) Hilderbrandt, Sara (Garett) Bourg, and step-great grandchildren, Emily (Matt) Ledford, Kaitlyn (fiance' Dr Joshua Kowalczyk) Hayes, and Zachary, Lucas, Thomas, Connor and Harper Babcock, Colton and Taylor Hilderbrandt and Marlow Bourg and a great-great grandson Finnley Ledford. She is also survived by nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, but she would be remiss by not mentioning by name, Mary Ann Pero, Barbara Jean Gautieri and the late Jeanne Stefaniak, three special nieces who were on hand and never failed to come or call.

She was predeceased by her sisters, Josephine (Harry) DiMartino, Lena (Peter) Pero and brother John Barbagallo, who died in an automobile accident in 1953 after having served in World War II for six years.

A Celebration of life Mass for Connie will be held on Saturday, March 14, 2026 at 9:30AM at Ascension Parish (Sacred Heart) 19 Sumner Street, Batavia NY with a luncheon to follow at Terry Hills. Connie placed a marker for her remembrance at Grand View cemetery bordering Terry Hills, another at Elmwood cemetery (with her husband Sherm), and a third at the Barbagallo family plot in St Joseph cemetery. Memorials may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.

To leave an online message of condolence please visit www.gilmartinfuneralhome.com. Arrangements completed by Gilmartin Funeral Home, 329-333 West Main Street, Batavia, NY 14020.