William George Barry

William G. Barry, a respected former FBI agent and CUNY Director of Public Safety passed away pecefully surrounded by his loving family on January 30th 2025. He was 78 years old.
Mr. Barry is survived by his wife of 55 wonderful years, Eileen Barry, their five children and spouses: Diane (Lou Ventura), Lynda (Jay Simunovich), Billy (Erica Barry) Mo (Ryan D'Amico), Buggy (Maggien Barry).Bill had fourteen loving grandchildren, Richard, Kelly, Matthew, Jay, Samantha, Mia, Claire, Frances, Lucy, Hattie, Peter, Quinn, Grace, and Madison. Bill is also survived by his brother Denis, sisters Regina, Christine, Peggy, and a large and close-knit extended family. He is preceded in death by his brothers Jimmy and Peter.
He was born on April 25, 1946 to Denis and Doris Barry in Brooklyn New York, later settling in Laurelton Queens. He attended Bishop Laughlin High School where he ran cross-country. He later enlisted in the United States Air Force and served proudly in the Vietnam War. Shortly after his return from Vietnam he married the love of his life Eileen (Schmid) Barry on March 16th 1969.
He attended John Jay College where he received his bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice. After graduating college, inspired by his Uncle Bill, he worked as a clerk and then became a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He served the bureau proudly for 28 years in the Queens field office, recruitment trail and as a beloved New York firearms instructor.
Bill and Eileen moved to Floral Park, New York in 1977 where they raised their five children. Bill later became Director of Security for the CUNY system where he spearheaded the professionalism of the entire CUNY Peace Officer program. He retired to a raucous crowd outside of CUNY headquarters after 20 years of service.
Bill loved sports, playing, watching, and coaching them. He played basketball for the Air Force while in the service. Later he played softball and basketball in the Floral Park Rec Center and Sunday nights at OLV where he loved to compete and made more lifelong friends during these days. He coached his children through the years and won many Diocesan Championships. More important than the winning was the values that he instilled of the many players he coached throughout the years. After his playing and coaching days were over he settled in and became the loudest and proudest fan at all of his grandchildren's sporting events. Bill loved to play golf and more importantly golf with good friends. A perfect day would be golf with big TR, Jim, Joe and Harry at the Towers followed by libations and a storytelling session.
Above all, Bill loved his wife, family and friends.
He treasured the memories of countless summers spent out in Wading River and later in South Jamesport with his loving wife, children and grandchildren.
Visiting hours will be on Sunday, February 2nd at Thomas J Dalton Funeral Home in Floral Park New York from 3 to 8 p.m. A funeral Mass will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Monday February 3rd at Our Lady of Victory Church in Floral Park, New York.