Bartholomew D. Barry

Bartholomew D. Barry, 86
     WESTFIELD, MASS. -- Bartholomew D. Barry, 86, died on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29, 2006, at the home of his daughter, Kathleen, and his son-in-law, John Freme, after a short illness.
     Mr. Barry was born in Lawrence, Mass. on July 27, l920, the eldest surviving son of Bartholomew David and Ellen Ita Gabbett Barry. He is predeceased by his parents and his brother, John.
     Bart graduated from Searles High School in Methuen, Mass. in l938 where he played on the football team and was captain of the track team.
     He put himself through Cushing Academy and went on to earn a degree in engineering at the University of Vermont (Class of 1944). There he was a key element of the football team, was elected to the Boulder Society, and was awarded the Sunderland Trophy, given to the outstanding member of the senior class.
     Bart interrupted his college education by enlisting in the United States Army Air Force, becoming a Lieutenant assigned as a navigator to B-24 Liberators based near Bari, Italy. In fact, he navigated a plane from Newfoundland to the Azores to North Africa. Lt. Barry flew 32 bombing missions over Europe, was awarded a group citation with two clusters, the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Silver Star and Purple Heart.
     On June 5, l944, Bart married Barbara Lillian Lane, a UVM graduate and the love of his life. The couple enjoyed 51 years of marriage. They had five children, William of Portland, Robert of Pittsfield, Mass., Kathleen Freme of Westfield, Mass., Daniel of Ann Arbor, Mich., and John of Lenox, Mass.; ll grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
     The Barry family lived in Methuen, Mass., North Adams, Mass., East Longmeadow, Mass., and Pittsfield, Mass. For the past several years Bart resided in Lenox, Mass.
     Bart began his public utilities career with the New England Electric System in l946, becoming a power sales engineer two years later. He became a Registered Professional Engineer. He continued his education with advanced management training programs at Northeastern University, the Stone & Webster Company, Northeast Utilities, and the Electric Council of New England. In l956 he joined the Western Massachusetts Electric Company as Commercial Sales Supervisor for the Springfield District and became Commercial Sales Manager in l968. He was then named Director of Commercial and Industrial Sales and, in l970, Manager of the Berkshire District for the Western Massachusetts Region.
     He was active in community affairs, serving as Chairman of several organizations, including the Central Berkshire Chamber of Commerce, the Downing Industrial Park Committee, the Berkshire Manpower Planning Council, and the Pittsfield Resource Recovery Commission, where he spearheaded the creation of the Vicon recovery plant. He also served on the Berkshire County Development Commission, the Junior Achievement Advisory Board, the United Way, the Retired Senior Volunteer Program and was a director of Bank of Boston, western Mass. He was a long time member of the Rotary Club.
     Above all, he was devoted to his wife and family and left a legacy that all people are to be treated fairly.
     A memorial service for Mr. Bartholomew D. Barry Jr. will be held Friday, June 2, 2006, at 10 a.m. at the Wellington Funeral Home, with Father Daniel Brunton officiating. Burial will follow in the Pittsfield Cemetery. There will be no calling hours.
    Donations in his memory may be made to:
    Pittsfield Rotary Club Foundation care of Wellington Funeral Home 220 East St.
     Pittsfield, Massachusetts 01201