Frank B. Barick

Frank Butcher Barick

Raleigh

Frank Butcher Barick (originally Baricska) passed away peacefully at his home with his son, Brad, and daughter-in-law, Rebecca, by his side on June 18, 2017. Frank was born in Hungary on March 21, 1919, to the late Joseph Baricska and Elizabeth Papp. He landed on Ellis Island in 1922, having made the ocean voyage with his 16 year old brother, Pete, to join his mother and brother, Paul, who had arrived earlier.

Having grown up in Mountaindale, NY he graduated from Mountaindale Union High School in 1936. He earned his BS degree in Forest Management and MS degree in Forest Wildlife Management from Syracuse University in 1943 where he was also an instructor and research fellow, teaching zoology from 1941-1947.

He worked for the Pennsylvania Game Commission from 1947-1949, where he developed long-range management plans for game lands.

In 1949, he was hired by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) as Project Leader for implementing a statewide big game restoration program to repopulate the waning deer herds. He directed the humane trapping of deer in other states which were reintroduced to specific areas for optimal acclimation. After promotion to Chief of the Game Division, he administered statewide wildlife management and conducted environmental impact studies to assure proper recognition of wildlife conservation concerns. In 1972 he was the recipient of the Governor's award in Wildlife Conservation.

Later, as the initial Chief of the newly created Environmental Division, he assisted Federal, State and local agencies as well as private developers in modifying their programs to be in consonance with the Commission's wildlife conservation program. He is credited with developing the concept of stream restoration as a substitute for channelization and created regulations for land use in Coastal counties, defining activities adversely impacting fish and wildlife conservation, now used nation-wide. He established the Commission's Endangered Species Program.

Prior to his retirement, Frank began planting Christmas trees on his family farm to have as a hobby in his golden years. As a result Back-Acher's Christmas Tree Farm was founded in 1982 and still serves loyal third generation customers in the Tri-City area.

During the Hungarian Uprising in 1956, Frank sponsored families coming to America. He was one of the founding members and president of the Hungarian Club and hosted the annual club picnic on his farm where the Hungarian culture is celebrated with authentic food and music.

Frank was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Cary. He enjoyed extensive world travel, wood working, photography, quail hunting and family gatherings.

Frank is preceded in death by wives, Elizabeth Barick (Betty, mother of his three children) and Dorothy (Dot) Barick; son, Bruce Barick; step-father, Louis Butcher; brothers, Pete Domonkos, Paul Domonkos and John Butcher.

He is survived by son, Dr. Bradford Barick and wife, Rebecca Avery; daughter, Marion Tilley; daughter-in-law, Mrs. Bruce Barick (Farideh); grandchildren, Christopher Barick and wife, Wendy, Nicholas Barick, Elham Barick Zelickman and husband, Tom, Roya Barick, Shannon Poissant and husband, Phil, Andrea Granger and husband, Gary, Chip Tilley and wife, Sorasmey and Jonathon Tilley; ten great- grandchildren; special niece, Betty Chesner and husband, Don; other relatives and dear friend, Anne Zimmermann.

We wish to acknowledge our gratitude for the loving in-home caregivers, Kim Vazquez, Hollie Queen and Angela James, who made Frank's last days full of love, laughter and continued adventure.

Frank left the world a better place than he found it; his was truly a life well lived.

In lieu of flowers, Frank requested that donations be made to The North Carolina Wildlife Federation at www.ncwf.org/support-ncwf/ or The Organization for Autism Research http://researchautism.org/get-involved/make-a-gift/donate/

Memorial Service arrangements are pending and will be posted on Frank's public Facebook page or you may inquire by emailing:
Brad@pointpartners.biz