Barry Mitchell Storter

Barry Mitchell Storter
August 8, 1927 - April 29, 2017
Barry Mitchell Storter, age 89, beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother-in-law, passed away on Saturday, April 29, 2017, at Mantey Heights Care Center in Grand Junction, CO.
Barry leaves behind his wife, Barbara (Acton) Storter; his children, Steven (Marie) Storter of Lake Zurich, IL; Christine (Tom) Bloss of Montrose; Kathryn (Nick) Prinster of Grand Junction, and David (Melanie) Storter of Montrose; eight grandchildren, Nick, Mitchell and Katie Storter, Ben Bloss, Will and Mariah Prinster, and Jeremy and Callie Storter, and sister-in-law, Jean Ann Acton. He was also a beloved uncle, cousin and friend to many.
Barry was a resident of Grand Junction for 36 years. He enjoyed the scenery and climate of Western Colorado, but he never lost his strong ties to his South Florida heritage. Born in Ft. Myers, Florida on August 8, 1927, he was the youngest of four children of Claude and Callie (Barry) Storter. He was proud of his family history; being settlers in the Everglades.
He spent his younger years in Ft. Myers and Naples, Florida. After high school, he served in the US Navy during WWII, stationed on a ship in the South China Sea. Upon returning home, he began his lifelong love of education. He attended Emory University, The Ohio State University (BA in Business), University of Florida (Pre-Med), University of Miami (Florida) (MD), the Ohio State University (three-year residency in Occupational Medicine) and Loyola University in Chicago (three-year residency in Psychiatry). He remained an enthusiastic Buckeye and was a proud member of Sigma Chi fraternity.
Barry met his eternal sweetheart, Barbie, on a spring break trip to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. They were both attending the Ohio State University at the time. They were married on December 27, 1950, in Columbus, Ohio, on a frosty winter's eve. As lifelong companions, they enjoyed 66 years of marriage.
Although Barry started out in the business world, he found he was attracted to medicine and made a career change. After medical school, internship, and a residency in Occupational Medicine, he became Medical Director of the Western Electric plant in Omaha, NE. His career advancing, Barry next took a position as Medical Director of the Eastern Division of Union Oil Company in the Chicago area. Ultimately, he decided to follow his desire to practice a different type of medicine and he completed a three residency in Psychiatry at Loyola University, Chicago. This led to a private practice in Libertyville, Illinois which lasted several years.
Lured by Colorado and a less hectic lifestyle, in 1981, he took a position as a Psychiatrist at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Grand Junction, Colorado. While Barry officially retired in 1997, he continued serving veterans doing contract psychiatric work at the VA until the age of 79. Professionally, he was a well-respected, caring and compassionate physician.
Barry enjoyed camping in the West and boating on Lake Michigan. There are happy memories of salmon fishing and trout fishing with his sons. He had a deep appreciation for music, especially classical music and opera; one of his great joys was attending the Lyric Opera in Chicago. Barry loved travel, and after retirement, he and Barbie explored diverse parts of the world. Most of all, however, Barry cherished our family gatherings. They were filled with passionate discourse, lively debate, laughter, tears, mutual respect and, most of all, love.
Barry finally succumbed to the ravages of Alzheimer's Disease on April 29. Due to his intellect and insight into the disease, he fought it with the same passion that distinguished his remarkable life. His family will deeply miss his presence in every aspect of our lives. In the hope that others might avoid the effects of the insidious disease, the Storters humbly request any donations be made, in Barry's name, to the Alzheimer's Association.
A Celebration of Barry's life will be held on June 24, 2017, at 4:00 p.m. at the Avalon Theater in Grand Junction, Colorado.