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, to 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 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 1972, the golf course’s owner, Parker C. Terry, extended to them an offer to buy the golf course, and they accepted. 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. They were married in 1977 and became “snowbirds” in Sun City Center, Florida for 30 years, immersing themselves in their community, volunteering at church and charities. 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.

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 7:00AM every Friday. 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 hostess and right-hand woman 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 and play football.

 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 — fascinated by finance, unafraid to talk stocks, and eager to build a business when few women were encouraged to do so. Always ahead of her time, 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 Babcock Hayes, Stephen Babcock, Michael Babcock, Jason Babcock, Daniel Hilderbrandt, Sara Hilderbrandt, and step-great grandchildren, Emily and Kaitlyn Hayes and Zachary, Lucas and Thomas Babcock. 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 for Connie will be held on a date to be announced in the Spring of 2026. Connie placed a marker for her remembrance at Grandview cemetery bordering Terry Hills, another at Batavia Cemetery (with her husband Sherm), and a third at her family plot in St Joseph Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice. For more information call 585-343-8260 or to leave a message of condolence please visit www.gilmartinfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are being completed by Gilmartin Funeral Home & Cremation Company, Inc. 329-333 West Main Street, Batavia, New York 14020.