Joseph Barry Mathias

Joseph Barry Mathias, 83, passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 23, surrounded by his loving family. Born in Plymouth to Joseph and Mary (Mello) Mathias, he was the beloved husband of Lydia (Jones) Mathias. Father of the late Jeffrey Mathias, husband of Jennifer Brides Mathias, and of John Mathias, husband of Carrie Elliott Mathias. He was the cherished grandfather of Hayden, Heidi, Caleb, and Meghan Mathias. He also leaves behind his sister-in-law Ellen and her husband, Vincent Roth of Venice, Florida, and his brother-in-law Phillip and his wife Mary (Cadigan) Jones of Plymouth and Boca Raton, Florida, along with several cousins and a great many dear friends. Known by everyone as Barry, except for his Navy buddies and UPS partners, where he was always Joe.

Upon graduation from Plymouth High School, Barry entered the Navy, where he proudly served for 4 years, honorably discharged in September 1965. His service aboard the USS Tidewater and later the USS Columbus brought him to the Mediterranean, Guam, Hawaii, Japan, the Philippines, Hong Kong, and Vietnam. He was proud to be a crew member on the first voyage of the newly commissioned USS Columbus. He received the Navy Expeditionary Medal for service in Vietnam.

In February 1966, Barry began his career with UPS. UPS was a young company at the time, and Barry worked tirelessly for them. He rose to Division Manager, taught UPS management school in Chicago, was instrumental in the introduction of the UPS air cargo service at Logan Airport, and managed Worcester, Sagamore, Cape and the Islands, Danvers, and parts of New Hampshire. Many co-workers became his dear friends and remained so throughout his life. Liberty Mutual Insurance Company awarded Barry an honor for saving a human life when one of his workers suffered a life-threatening injury. One of Barry's proudest moments was when he was chosen to welcome and escort James Casey, founder of United Parcel Service, around Boston. After Barry retired from the company, he organized an annual golf tournament for UPS retirees. His career with UPS was a highlight of his life.

In 1968, Barry married the love of his life, Lydia, to whom he was married for 57 years. Their two sons, Jeffrey and John, were born when he and Lydia lived in Plymouth. After nine years in Plymouth, the family moved to Kingston to live on a cranberry bog, where Barry began his dream of becoming an Ocean Spray cranberry grower. For years, work at UPS and cranberry growing were both in his life. However, the chance to own more cranberry bogs came when Lydia's uncle sold them his bogs on Wapping Road in 1987. Barry left UPS after 22 years, and Bog Hollow Farm was founded. Together, Barry and Lydia created an educational field trip program at the bogs for elementary school children. Schools came from the Cape all the way to Boston in the fall, where students learned about cranberries and wildlife, went on the bog to pick their own berries, and made a "bog in a cup" to bring home. Barry was very involved in this venture and loved being Mr. Cranberry Farmer, much to the delight of the children. His decision to expand to pumpkins and hayrides allowed kindergartens and preschools to enjoy nature, open space, and have fun in the pumpkin patch. Each year on Columbus Day weekend, Bog Hollow opened to the public to enjoy three days in the pumpkin patch. Barry loved these events and managed the business flawlessly. He was extremely creative with his many ideas to make each season more exciting. It thrilled him to receive the wonderful feedback both he and the whole family received, as it was truly a family endeavor. He still managed and harvested the cranberry crop during this time. In December, Barry and Lydia sold Christmas trees, wreaths, and greens from their Christmas tree farm at Bog Hollow.

As an Ocean Spray grower, Barry served on the Grower Advisory Committee and was a member of the Ocean Spray Fresh Fruit Committee. He was a member of the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers Association, Plymouth County Farm Bureau, a board member for many years of the Plymouth County Conservation District, and hosted their annual tree and shrub sale at Bog Hollow. He was also a founding member of the Kingston Agricultural Committee, a member of the advisory board for the Silver Lake Regional High School CTE Program Horticulture Department, a member of the Jones River Historical Society where he was famous for his annual lobster boils, a member of the Jones River Watershed Association, a former member of the Plymouth Yacht Club, and a member of the First Parish Church of Kingston, where he served on numerous committees.

Barry was fully involved in life and loved his family deeply as well as his multitude of friends. He and his wife traveled extensively, often with their "cruise group," organizing their many adventures. One of his great joys was playing golf with his golf buddies, especially in Marco Island, Florida. Everyone who knew Barry knew he was a "man of men" and a light in the world. He was deeply loved and respected-hardworking, kind, and always ready to have fun or to help if you needed him. In 2015, he and Lydia lost their beloved son Jeffrey, Chief Engineer on the cargo ship El Faro, in a hurricane off the Bahamas. Jeff was the father of Hayden, Heidi, and Caleb, three of Barry and Lydia's precious grandchildren. Devastated, Barry stepped into the role of substitute father to the children and supported everyone in the family through such a tremendous loss.

There is an enormous hole in everyone's heart now that Barry is gone. Barry will be sorely missed, but he has left an amazing legacy. The family wishes to thank the wonderful nurses and staff at Cranberry Hospice for their extraordinary care, and Dana-Farber Cancer Center at South Weymouth for their exemplary care as well.

At Barry's wish, there will be no visiting hours, but a funeral will be held Sunday, January 18th at 2 o'clock at First Parish Church, 221 Main Street, Kingston, with a Celebration of Life immediately following the service at Jones River Trading Post, 42 Elm Street, Kingston.

Those wishing to remember Barry, in lieu of flowers, may make a donation to Cranberry Hospice, 36 Cordage Park Circle, S-326, Plymouth, MA 02360, or to the Jeffrey Mathias Memorial Scholarship. Scholarship contributions should be made payable to the MMA Foundation and sent to: Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Attn: Office of Advancement, 101 Academy Drive, Buzzards Bay, MA 02532. Please include "Jeffrey Mathias Scholarship" in the memo line or in an accompanying note.