 Barbera displayed a talent for drawing as early as the first grade . He graduated from Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn in 1928 . While in high school , Barbera won several boxing titles . He was briefly managed by World Lightweight Boxing Champion Al Singer 's manager but soon lost interest in boxing . In 1935 , Barbera married his high school sweetheart , Dorothy Earl . In school , they had been known as " Romeo and Juliet " . 
