Obituary of J. Esmonde Barry

BARRY-surrounded by his loving family, the death of J. Esmonde Barry occurred in his 84th year at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute on Tuesday, July 31, 2007, following respiratory and cardiac failure complicated by pneumonia. Esmonde was the son of the late P. Esmonde and Eileen (Horgan) Barry. Married to Maureen Strang in 1950 at Melrose, N.B., they raised a family of 12 children during their 57 years of marriage. He was a loving and proud Dad who enjoyed the closeness of his family. Besides his wife, he is survived by 11 children, Dr. Brian (Elizabeth) of Kanata, Ont., Katherine Cotton of Kingston, Ont., Jane (Stanley) Frank of Ottawa, Gregory (Lynn) of Calgary, Dr. Susan (Jerry) Bianchi of Toronto, Captain Denis (Susan) and Christopher (Carole), both of Rothesay, and Ellen Sargent, Ronald (Doreen), Eileen Keating, and Joseph (Tara), all of Saint John; 29 grandchildren, Sharon, Daniel, Kathleen, Maureen, Michael, David,Christine, Carolyn, Cairina, Geoffrey, Sarah, Kevin, Christopher, Sean, Raelynn, Adam, Erin, Justin, Ronald, Shannon, Nicole, Matthew, Patrick, Mitchell, Cameron, Laura, Caitlin, Marissa, and Julia; two great-grandchildren, Isobel and Alexander; his brother, Rev. Kevin Barry of Hampton; his two sisters, Therese (George) Byrne of Saint John, and Patricia Barry of Hamilton, Ont.; his sister-in-law, Irene Barry of London, Ont.; and several nieces and nephews. Esmonde as predeceased by a son, Kevin Patrick; a grandson, Mathieu Esmonde; two sons-in-law, Peter Cotton and Gary Sargent; his brother, Gerard Arthur; and three nephews, Patrick and George Byrne and Anthony Barry. After graduating from St. Vincent's Boys High School in 1941 he received his BA degree from St. Joseph's University in Memramcook. In 1957 he received his Investment Dealer License from U.N.B. Esmonde was a Sales Representative and Zone Manager for International Harvester Company form 1947 to 1956. In 1957 he was a Registered Representative of Eastern Securities Ltd.. In 1964 he joined Richardson Securities which merged with Dominion Securities in 1970. He became Manager in 1975 and held that position until his retirement in 1986. Esmonde was involved over his lifetime in many organizations and worthy causes. He had given 60 years of service to the Knights of Columbus, Bishop Lawrence S. McMahon Council 937, having joined in 1947, and held positions of Member, Recorder, Chancellor, Deputy Grand Knight, Grand Knight (1964-66), State Treasurer and State Deputy for the Province of New Brunswick. At the Supreme Office level he was Supreme Director of the Atlantic Provinces from 1971 to 1974 and Vice Supreme Master of the Fourth Degree for the Atlantic Provinces 1979. Other organizations and boards Esmonde served on were Protestant Orphanage Committee; Board Member and President, Friends of Children's Aid Society; Director Saint John Board of Trustees for District 20; Director, N.B. Social Service Council; Member of the Better Businesses Bureau; Member of Central Business Development Corporation; Member of the Steering Committee of the Catholic Priests Pension Fund; Member of the Board of Governors of St. Thomas University; Founding Member and Chairperson of the Friends of St. Joseph's Hospital; Founding Member of the Hepatitis C Society, Saint John Chapter; and lastly a Member of the Friends of Healthcare. He received "The Bishop William Dollard Medal of Merit", diocese of Saint John, and the "Knights of Columbus Pope Paul Medal of Merit". Following his retirement he was a well written Orator with a weekly column in the Catholic New Freeman under the heading "Thoughts for Today" for a period of time. Periodically he was a commentator on 92.7 UNBSJ Radio. He had written many guest commentaries in the Telegraph-Journal and several articles for the Canadian Messinger. He was the author of "Escape from Romania", which was published in 1993. "Dad" was an avid sports fan, especially baseball. He loved to travel, watch movies, read books, listen to music, write stories and spend time with his family. He took great pleasure in family discussions, especially with his grandchildren regarding scholastic, political and religious studies. Resting at Fitzpatrick's Funeral Home, 100 Waterloo St., Saint John, with visiting on Monday and Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Wednesday morning at twelve o'clock. Interment will take place in St. Joseph's Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the "Esmonde Barry Heealthcare Scholarship", Romero House, the Canadian Diabetes Association, CNIB-Saint John Branch or the Cathedral Fund. Members of the Knights of Columbus will gather at the funeral home on Tuesday evening at seven o'clock for prayers.