Remembering Barbara Elizabeth Evigan: A Life of Quiet Devotion and Family Bonds

Basic Information

Early Roots and Formative Years

Barbara Elizabeth Evigan entered the world on a winter day in 1927, her birth in Newark, New Jersey, marking the start of a journey through America’s turbulent 20th century. Born as Barbara Elizabeth Koperski, she grew up amid the shadows of the Great Depression, her early life a blend of resilience and simplicity. Newark’s bustling streets and industrial hum shaped her youth. She navigated childhood with a quiet determination, her maiden name hinting at Eastern European roots that added depth to her identity.

By her early twenties, Barbara’s path converged with love. In 1948, at age 21, she married Ralph Milan Evigan, an electrician whose steady hands built more than circuits—they forged a foundation for family. Ralph, born December 5, 1923, in New Jersey, came from a lineage including parents George Evigan and Iona Harris Evigan, and siblings Audrey, Doris Jenkins, George L., and Jane S. His life in South Amboy during the 1930s and 1940s reflected working-class stability. Their union spanned 66 years, a marathon of commitment ending only with Ralph’s death in 2014 at age 90. Barbara, then 87, faced widowhood like a weathered oak standing firm after a storm.

The couple settled in South Amboy, New Jersey, where Barbara embraced homemaking. Short days turned into decades of nurturing. She managed the household while Ralph’s electrician work provided. Census records from 1935, 1940, and 1953 place them firmly in this community, their home a hub of activity. Barbara’s role evolved naturally, her hands busy with daily tasks that wove the fabric of family life.

Marriage and Immediate Family

Barbara’s marriage to Ralph stood as the cornerstone of her existence, a partnership enduring through wars, economic shifts, and personal milestones. They exchanged vows in 1948, just as post-World War II America boomed. Ralph’s career as an electrician ensured modest prosperity—wiring homes and businesses, his trade a metaphor for connecting lives. Barbara supported from home, her devotion evident in the longevity of their bond.

Children arrived in the early 1950s, transforming their world. Three offspring completed the picture: Sandra, Joseph, and Gregory. Sandra, known as Sandy, the eldest, married Bob and carved a private path. Born around the early 1950s, she contributed to family continuity through her own descendants. Joseph, or Joey, followed suit, wedding Kathy and maintaining a low-profile life. His birth in the 1950s placed him in the heart of sibling dynamics.

Gregory Ralph Evigan, born October 14, 1953, emerged as the family’s public face. Greg pursued acting, starring in over 50 television shows and films, including B.J. and the Bear and My Two Dads. Trained in piano from age 8, his talents blossomed under Barbara’s encouragement. Greg married dancer Pamela C. Serpe on June 3, 1979, expanding the family with three children of their own. Their union, now over 45 years, mirrors his parents’ endurance.

Their lives were filled with family gatherings. South Amboy had a 1999 reunion of relatives from throughout the U.S., including California transplants. Over 20 people from three generations attended. Barbara, 72, enjoyed these moments, her presence glueing branches.

Children and Extended Legacy

Barbara’s children carried her influence forward, each in unique ways. Sandra’s private life focused on family, her marriage to Bob yielding grandchildren like Jesse, Joey, or Rachel—assignments fluid but bonds strong. Joseph mirrored this discretion, his union with Kathy adding to the generational tapestry. Together, the siblings formed a trio of support, their childhood in South Amboy filled with shared adventures.

Greg’s branch bloomed vibrantly. His son Jason, born in 1983, pursued music as a producer and former frontman of After Midnight Project. Vanessa Lee, born 1981, stepped into acting. Briana, born October 23, 1986, gained fame in Step Up 2: The Streets and other roles. Greg’s family, with six grandchildren total including Jesse, Joey, and Rachel, and even great-grandchildren, extended Barbara’s reach. Public appearances, like the 2016 red carpet for Only God Can, showcased this multi-generational creativity—five family members present, cameras capturing their unity.

Barbara’s nurturing fostered these pursuits. She encouraged Greg’s piano lessons, starting at age 8, laying groundwork for his career. Her later retail work, post-childrearing, demonstrated adaptability—perhaps in local stores, adding income to the household. No specific employers noted, but this phase, spanning the 1970s and beyond, highlighted her resourcefulness.

Later Years and Transitions

Barbara’s life moved west over the decades. She and Ralph moved to California at 58 in 1985 because to Greg’s Hollywood career. To be near grandchildren’s careers, Newbury Park, Ventura County, became home. This 2,500-mile trek symbolised adapting from New Jersey to warmer climates.

Ralph’s death on August 14, 2014, was devastating. At 90, his monument read “Beloved Husband, Father, Grandfather.” Barbara, his seven-year-old widow, grieved with family support. In her 90s, she enjoyed quiet joys like visits from six grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.

Public moments were rare. In 2016, at 89, Barbara attended the Only God Can premiere, joining Greg, Jason, Vanessa, and Briana on the red carpet. Videos capture her poise, a brief glimpse into her world. No other outings documented, her life remained private.

Timeline of Key Moments

To trace Barbara’s journey, consider this chronological outline:

This sequence spans 94 years, from Depression-era beginnings to 21st-century farewells. Short milestones mix with longer eras of stability. Barbara’s story, vivid in its ordinariness, reflects a generation’s quiet fortitude.