Barabba became president of Datamatics, Inc. in 1966, and was later named chairman of the board of Decision Making Information. He served as chairman until 1973, when he was tapped by President Nixon to serve as director of the Census Bureau.

Barabba resigned as director in 1976, taking a job as manager of market research for the Xerox Corporation. He returned to the Census Bureau in 1979, however, to help guide the collection and tabulation of the 1980 Census before resigning again in 1981.

He was the first and, to date, the only director of the Census Bureau to be appointed by two different presidents. In fact, he was the first person since the establishment of a permanent Census Bureau to ever serve two separate tours as official director.

Following his government service, Barabba served as director of market intelligence for the Eastman Kodak Company from 1981 until 1986. He was then named executive director of market research and planning for the General Motors Corporation, a position he held until 2003. He was also the chairman of the Market Insight Corporation.

Barabba spoke about his career and service in the Census Bureau oral history program, including, notably, his appreciation for the agency’s employees and “their commitment to doing something right.”

“Everyone thinks about the Census Bureau’s great resources,” said Barabba. “There is no question in my mind that it is the quality of the people that really makes the place go."

We mourn the loss of this Census Bureau leader and share our sorrow at his passing with his friends and family.