Edward T. "Eddie" Barry

Edward T., "Eddie" Barry of Needham, passed away on Friday, February 12, 2016. He was 96 years old. Born and raised in Wellesley, Eddie was the son of the late William J. and Mary (Sheehan Barry. Eddie played hockey for a short time at Northeastern University, but left in school to play for the Boston Olympics of the Eastern Hockey League. He was captain of the team in 1941. He served in the US Coast Guard from December 1942 to October 1945. He played 19 games for the Boston Bruins during the 1946-47 season and then rejoined the Olympics for 4 more years and then became the head coach in 1950. Mr. Barry was the head coach of the Boston State College (now UMass Boston) Hockey team from 1962- 1982. He had a long association with the UMass Boston department of athletics following his coaching career. Ed both managed the hockey rink and help guide the UMass hockey program. In September of 2105 the university announced the hockey facility and renaming it the Edward Thomas Barry Ice Rink. Beyond coaching, Ed Barry was also an official for the ECAC and NCAA hockey leagues for 15 years. An avid golfer, Mr. Barry was a member of and 12 time club champion of Charles River Country Club. He also won the New England Amateur Championship and New England and Massachusetts Senior Amateur titles. In 1960, Ed and his longtime friend, John "Jack" Farrell founded Barry and Farrell Insurance Agency in Needham. The business continues to operate today with second and third generation members of the Barry and Farrell families. Ed was the beloved husband of Patricia (Donovan) and the late Lucille (Steadman) Barry and father of Jacqueline A. Donovan and her late husband Vincent of Needham, Edward T. Barry, Jr. and his wife Nancy of Needham and Michelle L. Sullivan and her husband Sean of Littleton. Step father of Christine Lyons, John Lyons and Mary Lyons all of Belmont and Patsy Lyons of Candia, NH. Preceded in death by his grandson Edward T. Barry III, he is survived by 10 grandchildren; Nicole Donovan, Ryan Donovan, Garth B. Donovan, Savann Donovan, Cristen A. Barry, Kevin R. Barry, Lauren A. Blackmore, Michael B. Sullivan, Samantha L. Sullivan and Emily E. Sullivan and 6 great grandchildren; Luke Donovan, Mika Donovan, Edward T. Barry IV, George R. Barry, Astrid Blackmore and Nieve Blackmore. and 6 great grandchildren. His Funeral will be held from the Eaton Funeral Home, 1351 Highland Ave Needham, on Thursday, February 18 at 9:00 AM, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Joseph Church at 10AM. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. Visiting hours are in the funeral home on Wednesday from 4-7PM. Interment private. In lieu of flowers donations in Ed's name may be made to the Edward T. Barry Ice Rink, UMass Boston Athletic Department, 100 Morrissey BLVD., Boston MA 02125.