Menu
Search by Name
Search by Name
BARRY ARMSTRONG Obituary
Dr. Barry Donald Armstrong, age 72, passed away peacefully on May 13, 2024. He was born to Barry and Betty Armstrong on July 20, 1951. He will forever be remembered as a selfless person who loved to help people, in both his personal life and medical career.
Dr. Armstrong retired from a 20 year military career as trauma surgeon, moving to Northwestern Ontario, enjoying nature's beauty in his free time. Dr. Armstrong was known to his colleagues, residents, nurses, and patients as a compassionate, caring surgeon, frequently going beyond the necessary, to ensure best care.
He was a lifelong student, always wanting to learn new skills, whether to benefit his personal life, or professional career. He took up snowboarding at the age of 50; loved travelling the world with his love, Jennifer, achieving his goal of visiting all seven continents; and enjoyed participating in local theatre, clubs, and committees in Thunder Bay.
Barry is survived by his wife, Jennifer; sisters Patricia and Alison; his three children Karen, Marie, and David; and four grandchildren, Benjamin and Morgan (Karen & Andy), Hailey and Lucas (Marie & Jay). All of these he loved and touched deeply.
Keeping with Barry's giving spirit, some of his remains will be donated to medical research. No funeral service will be held as it was Barry's wish.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for BARRY ARMSTRONG
21 Entries
Ian Anderson
November 11, 2024
Barry and I were surgery residents together. He was a generous and loyal friend. I deployed several times and always appreciated his devotion to patients and the mission.
Frank Baillie
November 4, 2024
Very sorry to see this , he was such an interesting and committed trauma surgeon
Cheryl Victor
June 18, 2024
Barry´s medical expertise in trauma surgery will be ever appreciated by my family as he used his knowledge and connections with our son´s injury while practising medicine in Dryden.
I extend my sincerest condolences to you and your family Jennifer.
Rick and I always enjoyed our chance encounters in Thunder Bay and appreciate his dedication to his chosen profession.
In remembrance
Cheryl Victor
Vivian McAlister
June 3, 2024
I joined the Canadian Forces sometime after Dr. Armstrong released but I worked to meet the high standards that he set. My deepest condolences to his family.
Donelle Williams
June 3, 2024
Please accept my deepest condolences on Barry's passing. We were medical students together in the class of '79 at the University of Calgary.
He lead a courageous life which could not have been easy.
My thoughts and prayers are with you
Dr. Christie Macdonald
June 1, 2024
And a post-script, he was really funny too. I loved his dry wit. I am so sorry for your loss.
Dr. Christie Macdonald
June 1, 2024
My deepest condolences to the Armstrong family. I had the honour of working with Maj. Dr. Armstrong during a surgical rotation at the NDMC in the mid-1990s. This was obviously a very fraught time, and I admired Dr. Armstrong's dedication to truth and duty. I have few regrets in life, but one of them is that I never explicitly told Dr. Armstrong how much I respected his decision to do the right thing. As a now middle aged person, I appreciate even more how difficult and important that decision was. May he rest in peace.
Geoff White
June 1, 2024
My condolences to Jennifer and family. I have many vivid memories of Barry, as a fellow student at the University of Calgary, as a brave witness at the Somalia inquiry, as a family friend with whom we shared good times in each other's home. May he rest in peace and the good that he did for so many live on in memory.
Katherine Krienke
May 24, 2024
My deepest sympathies to you, Jennifer, and your family. Barry shone a bright light in the lives of myself and my entire family. You taught without the pupil realizing they were being taught on so many occasions. I am grateful for the memories of all the things our families have shared, from my grandsons Riley and Devon´s first ballgame to your encouragement to finish my BA. Our family trips with your family will continue to touch us deeply. Your morals and ethics helped shape each of us. I am profoundly grateful to have shared in your life. Dr. Barry Armstrong, thank you for being you.
Mario Charette
May 24, 2024
Barry was a great teacher and mentor! Had the privilege of crossing paths twice while in the military. First in Valcartier military hospital and the deploying to Somalia with him. RIP. Sincere condolences to family and loved ones.
Alexis Bone
May 23, 2024
I enjoyed working with Dr.Armstrong at TBRHSC.He was a very nice man....a kind and gentle nature.
He will be missed .Sincere condolences.Alexis Bone
Dr Ian Dobson
May 22, 2024
I worked with Barry for many years and he truly was a lifelong student of medicine. He was a tireless worker who would not only operate at all hours if needed, but also take out the garbage and assist with cleaning the operating rooms after the case. He was generous with all staff and kept the nurses lounge stocked with snacks and coffee. He made a real contribution to the medical welfare of Canadians both locally and abroad and will be truly missed.
Colonel Michel W. Drapeau
May 21, 2024
Dr. Amstrong displayed rare professionalism and high virtues of reliability, honesty and courage to stand up when he went public with allegations of malfeasance against his military superiors during the Somalia deployment. In so doing, he played a pivotal and prevalent role in getting to the truth. In doing so, he displayed one of the most difficult and important forms of quiet form heroism in modern society. My deepest sympathies to his family for their lost. He was and remain a great man who dared speaks the trutht
Linda M Jones
May 19, 2024
I knew Barry in high school, and later my first husband and I connected with Barry and Jennifer when they were in Ottawa, preparing for the Somalia Inquiry. I admired so much their strength and dedication in ensuring justice be done, regardless of the consequences to their comfortable life. May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived
Dre Chantal Descoteaux Maj(ret)
May 19, 2024
I have known Dr Armonstrong when he was posted to Valcartier. He was an excellent surgeon and always ready to answer questions we, the general practitioners, had for him. Mes sincères condoléances.
Ron Shaw
May 19, 2024
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow. Love Ron Shaw
Major Alec Cooper, MD
May 19, 2024
Barry and I "connected" through our mutually twisted sense of humor when we first met on a military course in 1992. We were posted to Quebec City, and Barry and Jennifer adopted this lonely bachelor into their family. My first date with my wife was with them at an officers' mess send-off for General Dallaire's mission to Rwanda. Years later, they attended Sylvie's and my wedding at the Collège Militaire de St. Jean. Barry (and his family) paid dearly for courageously following our motto "Militi Succurrimus" (We hasten to aid the soldier) into those murky depths where its ideals abut against the necessities of Military Justice. Sic Itur Ad Astra, Barry.
Julia Charles
May 18, 2024
Jennifer
I´m so sad to hear of Barry´s death. I pulled out my photo album of our Frankenstein 1930 Magnus fundraiser and fondly reminisced the times we shared then. My heartfelt condolences to you and your family. Julia
Dr. M. N. A-Hamid
May 18, 2024
With my condolences to the family. A sense of a loss of a supportive colleague . May God bless his soul.
Showing 1 - 21 of 21 results