John C. Barney

JOHN C. BARNEY
ITHACA - John C. Barney, local attorney, died at home peacefully on October 8th, 2008 surrounded by his family. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather and is survived by his wife of 47 years, Joyce; their children, John Jr., Karen (Peter Parkes) and William (Kathleen Kealy); and their six grandchildren, Savannah, Benjamin, Andrew, Nicholas, Zachary and Liam.
John was born the son of the late Sara and Harold Barney on November 18, 1939. He was the eldest of three sons including, the late Hal Barney of Buckingham, Pennsylvania and Richard Barney of Ticonderoga, New York. John grew up in New Jersey where he attended Madison High School. His early years were characterized by a gift for music, winning many local and regional honors with his trumpet. He had his own band which brought music to many a dance or other event around his hometown. Music was always an important part of his life, and true to his character, his musical talents were diverse.
John attended Wesleyan University in Connecticut where he graduated "with distinction" in 1961. Upon graduation he married the former Joyce Ebbinge and entered Columbia University Law School, graduating cum laude in 1964. It was during those law school years that their children were born. John also earned his pilot's license, and flying became a passion he would keep for the rest of his life.
Following graduation, John began the practice of law in New York City with the law firm of Donovan, Leisure, Newton & Irvine. In 1966, desiring a more family oriented community, he moved his family to Ithaca, New York, where he worked with the New York State Law Revision Commission. John left the Commission in 1968 to enter a partnership with longtime Ithaca attorney, James V. Buyoucos. This was the beginning of a long and successful private law practice in Ithaca, which would last until John's death.
During his career, John served the public as an Assistant District Attorney, Attorney for the Towns of Ithaca, Danby, and Spencer and Counsel for the Southern Cayuga Lake Inter-municipal Water Commission. As the senior partner at the law firm of Barney, Grossman, Dubow & Marcus, he had a wide range of areas of practice, from small business/corporate law, banking law, municipal and zoning law, and construction law to matrimonial law. He also had a wide variety of clientele, reflecting his interests and the breadth of his ability as an attorney and counselor to his clients.
While running his law firm, John was also very active in the community. From 1981 to 1995, he was on the Lansing School Board and was President for many of those years. He served on the T-S-T BOCES Board for 12 years, was President of the Tompkins County Bar Association, chaired the Town of Lansing Board of Zoning Appeals, and served on the New York State Committee on Professional Standards for the Appellate Division, Third Department, including one term as its chairman. As Co-President of the Board of Trustees of the First Unitarian Church, John played a key role in the purchase of the Wolff organ for the church.
While John's work defined him in the community, his hobbies and home life were how he defined himself. His family was his first love. John coached all of his children (and others) in their sporting endeavors, and when not on the bench, the sidelines or poolside, he was an enthusiastic supporter in the stands. He spent every year vacationing with them on Sanibel Island, in the Caribbean, and in the later years, in the Far East, to be with son, Bill, and his family.
In addition to his family, his Piper Twin Comanche was his other joy. The plane logged over 25 trips to Florida, four long tours of the US west coast and numerous short jaunts to see friends and family along the eastern sea board. Calm and cool in the cockpit, John was always excited to fly. He took every opportunity to fly family and friends as well as lend a helping hand by transporting those needing a quick flight for medical reasons or to make an important appointment.
A memorial service celebrating his life will be held for John on October 17th at the Unitarian Church in Ithaca, New York. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked for donations to the Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke University (www.cancer.duke.edu/btc/modules/waystohelp10/index.php?id=2); or to the Lansing Central School Music Fund, attn: Sue French, 284 Ridge Road, Lansing, NY 14882.