EDWARD M. BARRY, 92

Edward Barry, 92, of Palm Bay, Florida, passed away on Monday, December 25, 2017 at Holmes Regional Hospital.  Born in Norwood, Massachusetts to Michael and Veronica Barylak.

Edward Barry was a passionate man who enjoyed watching and playing sports.  As a young man he played baseball and he watched baseball, football and basketball his entire life.  His favorite teams were the Boston Red Sox, the New England Patriots and the Boston Celtics.  His last position prior to a 30-year retirement was as Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Brush Industries in Pennsylvania.  In his spare time he enjoyed reading, playing golf, playing bridge and ballroom dancing with his late wife Kay.

Edward was extremely loving and proud of his "full house" of three queens and two kings.  His five children are Steven Barry and his wife Cheryl of Melbourne, FL, David Barry of Melbourne, FL, Joyce Barry of Fredericksburg, VA, Kathleen Barry of Orlando, FL, and Elizabeth Barry of Palm Bay, FL.  His six grandchildren Ashley Battles and her husband Matt, Jennifer Isnardi and her husband Dominic, Jessica Carr and her husband Matt, Brooke Barry, Bridgette Barry, and Patrick Barry and his wife Johanna survive him.  He is also survived by seven great-grandchildren, his nephews Larry Berry, Bob Berry and Jim Berry and his niece Sandy Dragon as well as many other extended family and friends.

The funeral mass for Edward will be on Friday, January 26, 2018 at 11 am at Saint Joseph Catholic Church, 5330 Babcock Street, NE, Palm Bay, Florida 32905.  The interment will take place at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery, 5525 U.S. Highway 1, Mims, FL 32754 at 1:30 pm.

Dad's Eulogy

As I sat down to write this eulogy for my Dad I realized there really are no words to express the deep love and respect that we all felt for him.  He was the patriarch of the Barry family, our rock, our mentor in life.  He taught us how to navigate in this world, how to avoid the pitfalls and stay on the straight and narrow path.  I wish I could say we always listened but even when we didn't he was still there to help pick up the pieces.

My father was part of "The Greatest Generation" as described by journalist Tom Brokaw in his book which profiles those who grew up in the United States during the deprivation of the Great Depression , and then went on to fight in World War II .  Tom Brokaw wrote, "It is, I believe, the greatest generation any society has ever produced".  He argued that these men fought not for fame and recognition, but because it was the "right thing to do" and it was not because they hated the enemy in front of them but because they loved the county behind them.  I think he spoke to the character, moral integrity, discipline and honor that my father possessed.  Born in 1925, Dad would have been 93 on January 22 ^nd .  Imagine all the changes he witnessed in his lifetime of almost one century.

My Dad's father, Michael came to this country in 1910 at the age of 18 from the town of Snatyn located in the empire of Austria-Hungary in Eastern Europe.  My Dad's mother, Veronica came to the United States three years later.  Even though they came from the same city in the Ukraine they did not know each other until they met at a Polish picnic in Norwood, MA located just outside of Boston.  They got married when Michael was 25 and Veronica was 23 and had three boys, Martin, Stanley and the youngest was my father, Edward.  My Dad grew up during the Great Depression.  By 1933, when the Great Depression reached its lowest point, some 15 million Americans were unemployed and nearly half the country's banks had failed.  His mother Veronica was a devout Catholic who set a spiritual example for my Dad that he would carry with him his entire life.  My Dad told me that he would receive letters from his mother on board the ship when he was in the Navy with fervent prayers of protection that he would return home safely from the war.

My Dad's top priority was always his family.  He loved his wife and children more than anything else in this world…..well except maybe the Red Sox.  Just kidding.  J  In 1940 at the age of 15 my Dad saw a beautiful young girl named Kay Alty in his homeroom class in the 10 ^th grade in Norwood, MA.  The students were seated in alphabetical order according to last name so Kay Alty and Eddie Barylak were seated next to each other for that entire year.  But as fate would have it they did not get to know each other until a few years later.

My Dad was an avid sports fan.  His love of sports started with baseball.  In 1943 at the age of 17, he played American Legion baseball as an outfielder for his hometown team in Norwood, MA.  That year he made a key play to win the State Legion Championship in Fenway Park.  Due to that success he was recruited to play for a farm team for the Boston Red Sox.  Even though he turned down the offer he followed the Red Sox his entire life. He enjoyed both watching and playing sports. In addition to baseball he watched football, basketball and golf.  His favorite teams were the Boston Red Sox, the New England Patriots and the Boston Celtics.

In 1943, after graduating from high school my Dad left home to serve in the United States Navy during WWII.  After basic training boot camp, he was selected to go through specialized training.  He passed the tests for Electrician's Mate School and Gyro Compass School.  He was assigned to the attack cargo/troop ship USS Leo in charge of the Gyro Compass, the navigation system of the ship.  His ship left Norfolk, Virginia for the Pacific in early 1944 and he was involved in two large invasions/assaults of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, Japan.  After the war ended in September 1945, his ship remained in the Pacific transporting Chinese National troops along the Chinese coast during their civil war with the communists.  After three years of service he was honorably discharged on Mother's Day in May 1946 with the rank of Petty Officer 2 ^nd class.  Dad, we owe you our deepest gratitude for your sacrifice and service to our country.

A week after he was discharged from the Navy my Dad decided to go to a dance at the local Elks Club in Boston.  In those days there were large ballrooms with big bands like Glen Miller and Tommy Dorsey filling the ballroom with both the "sweet" melodies of waltzes and foxtrots as well as the up-tempo sounds of swing music.  In an effort to get the crowd to mix, the orchestra leader would stop the music and instruct the audience to create two large circles in the middle of the dance floor, one on the inside with the women facing out and one on the outside with the men facing in.  When the music started, each circle would move in the opposite direction.  When the music stopped playing, he instructed them to dance with the person in front of you.  Guess who the girl was standing in front of Dad when the music stopped on this memorable night?  It was the girl from his 10 ^th grade homeroom class!  She said to him, "Hi!  My name is Kay!  What's yours?"  Mom was 20 and Dad was 21.  My parents were inseparable from that day forward.  Three years later in June of 1949, they were married and danced together for many years to come. They danced so well together that they were often asked if they were dance instructors.  My Dad's response would always be to compliment my Mom about how she made him look good by being "very light on her feet".

My father graduated from Purdue University with a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering.  During his time at Purdue, he was a student announcer for Indiana's first radio station WBAA, the Voice of Purdue.  WBAA presented a weekly dramatic program entitled "Radio Stage" and my father was part of the cast.  My Dad had an outgoing personality so he decided to pursue a sales and marketing career within the engineering arena. His last position prior to a 30-year retirement was Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Brush Industries in Pennsylvania.

My parents were married for 66 years.   From the day they met at that dance, they had been together for a total of 69 years!!  An entire lifetime!  They had a "full house" as my Dad would say of three queens and two kings.  They were very proud of their five children: Steven, David, Joyce, Kathleen and Elizabeth.  They were also blessed with 6 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.  Our entire family is forever blessed by their guidance and influence in our lives.  Their legacy will live on for generations in all of their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

My father modeled for us what it meant to be a devoted husband and father. He always put his family first.  It must not have been an easy task to be the sole provider for a family of seven.  He always worked so hard to provide a warm and loving home for us.  My parents both had a strong belief in the value of an education.  Over the years, he never complained even once about all of the personal sacrifices he made to help his children get ahead in life.  He was always so full of encouragement and hope, and steadfastly determined to give his children a chance at a better future.  Today all that I am, and all that I have become, is due in large part to my Dad and his hard work.  As a child of his, I am truly blessed.

My father was my first dance teacher.  My parents watched the Lawrence Welk Show every weekend.  I remember one evening when I was about 10 years old and my Dad decided I should learn how to dance the waltz.  After much protest on my part, I agreed to let him show me the steps.  Once I had the steps I asked him, "Am I as good as Mom, yet?".  He smiled and said: "Not yet, Kathy….almost but not yet.  Your mother is a wonderful dancer."  I can remember thinking to myself, "One day I hope I am as good of a dancer as my Mom."  We talked about dancing a lot over the years.  My Dad would always call me when the ballroom competitions were on television so I could watch them.  The gift of dance that they both gave to me has been one of the greatest joys of my life.

After my mother went to be with the Lord two years ago I discovered one of the secrets to their long marriage. My father told me they would kneel next to the bed every night and say their prayers together before they went to sleep. Dad said that Mom was God's special gift to him.  He would often say to me, "It was truly a miracle how He brought us together.".  My father only loved one woman in his entire life and he was completely devoted to her.  That kind of enduring love is a blessing that very few receive.

Dad was never the same after my Mom went to be with the Lord.  She passed away very unexpectedly, two days after their 66 ^th wedding anniversary on June 27 ^th , 2015.  He said half of him was gone but I think it was an even bigger part of him that left the day she was no longer with him.  Imagine how happy she was on Christmas morning to see him again.  And Dad must have felt the same unending joy to see her again.  I know they are dancing together now on streets paved with gold for all eternity. They will have no more sorrow, no more tears and no more pain. Until I see you again Daddy I love you more than words can ever express. Thank you for being an amazing father.  We do not say goodbye today but until we meet again.  Save me a dance Daddy.  Our souls will dance together again one day.  I love you to the moon & back again.  We will miss you every day.

"And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance."

A Widower Shares His Thoughts

Nothing lasts forever – especially life!  You only pass through once.  My Kay passed away June 27, 2015 and my head is still spinning.  Half of me is gone forever.  My heart is broken.  Mood swings and emotions.  Highs and lows.  Sadness…much sadness.  I'm lost!  I feel so lonely!  It's a shock both physically and mentally.  It's all a dream!  It's like a boat just drifting aimlessly without a rudder.  Always look at your blessings.  We all have them!  This is the ultimate challenge facing me.  I ask God every day for help, to guide me through this most difficult time.  I know with God's guidance and the support of my five children I will be a stronger person.  Grief is the price you pay for love!  It's not something you get over.  It's something you learn to live with.  Not until you lose a loved one, wife, husband or mother do you truly feel the impact.  It's devastating!  I'm not mad at God.  Kay's time was up.  She had a full, healthy and active life.  She enjoyed life and we enjoyed each other.  Married 66 years!  Words are inadequate to describe my feelings toward you, Kay.  You have been the love of my life since you were 20 and I was 21 – 69 years ago!  I honestly believe that you were God's special gift to me.  It was a miracle how we met on the dance floor.

The biggest obstacle to overcome is loneliness!  There is a constant feeling of emptiness.  Everything looks different without you.  Time heals but not completely.  It's like surgery – the scar remains.  I know God is always with me.  People change when they lose a loved one.  I know I have – I appreciate everything more.  My outlook on life has changed.  Living alone is a drastic change.  You have more time to think.  Keep busy!  I know Kay would not want me this way.  Make the most of God's greatest gifts and your regrets will be few.  Don't waste your opportunity to do something good.  When a loved one passes we have regrets, I wish I had said this…I'm sorry I said that.  Think twice before speaking.  Be kind, thoughtful and respectful and you will have few regrets!

Life is constant change.  The survivors are able to adjust.  Death is a part of life – accept it!  I now have a big void in my life, how do I fill it?  That is my challenge!

Edward M. Barry