Robert Barrett

1944 - 2024

Robert Gene Barrett, affectionately known as "Bob," passed away peacefully on November 29, 2024, after a courageous battle with Hurthle Cell Thyroid cancer. He was surrounded in his final days by his loving family, including his three children, Daphne, Zack, and Taylor, his son-in-law, Morgan, and his cherished grandchildren, Sudais, Ashadu, Reina, Oscar, and Aquinnah.

Bob was born on August 24, 1944, in Tilden, NE, to Gene and Pinkie Barrett. He grew up in Chicago with his siblings, Kathy and Dick, at the Ambassador Hotels, where his father served as the general manager. Bob delighted his children with tales of his adventures in the hotel, recalling how he played, roamed, and enjoyed whatever food he desired from the menu. He particularly cherished the childhood memories of his family gatherings in Nebraska with his beloved grandmother, "Mimi".

A standout athlete, Bob attended Loyola Academy in Wilmette, IL, earning letters in both basketball and football. He furthered his education at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA, distinguishing himself as an All-Ivy Linebacker and a member of the Fox Club. After completing his undergraduate studies, he earned his MBA from Harvard Business School in 1968, and then ventured to New York City to begin work on Wall Street with CBWL-Hayden Stone, Inc. During his time in New York, Bob met and married Myrn Ellen Thayer and began raising a family. Bob relocated to the Boston area in 1975 to work for First Chicago Bank. In 1983, he co-founded Battery Ventures and embarked on a successful career in venture capital. In 1996, Bob moved to San Francisco, CA to help establish a west coast office for the firm. In 2015, he moved to Vero Beach, FL. while still spending summers in Little Compton, RI, a community he had been a part of since his Boston days and his family's "home-base".

Bob truly loved entertaining and bringing people together. Often discussions with Bob would turn to politics. While adamant in his beliefs, he was passionately committed to fostering constructive conversation across partisan lines.

Bob's enthusiasm for sports was evident throughout his life, as he adored sharing experiences with his children at numerous Harvard sporting events and was a life-long fan of the Celtics and the Red Sox. An avid golfer, Bob spent many days on the golf course with friends from all over the country, especially at the San Francisco Golf Club and the Sakonnet Golf Club, enjoying both competition and camaraderie.

Bob faced his illness with remarkable strength and the same competitiveness he demonstrated in sports, serving as an inspiration to many through his resilience and positivity until the end. His legacy of kindness, friendship, and passion for life will always be remembered by the countless lives he touched.

In addition to his children and grandchildren, he is survived by his younger brother, Dick Barrett, and loving sister-in-law, Gail Barrett. The family wishes to celebrate Bob's life privately and welcomes friends to share memories in any way they see fit. Bob valued education highly and, as a man of deep conviction, contributed generously to the Basic Fund, a charity dedicated to providing scholarships for underprivileged students in the Bay Area. In lieu of flowers, charitable contributions in Bob's memory can be directed to The Basic Fund, 1301 Clay Street, #70450, Oakland, CA 94612, Tel. 415-986-5650.