Connie Aichele
I had the pleasure of working with Barry at the REA Literacy Center, almost every week for nine years. Whenever we'd be approaching a task that seemed difficult, Barry would tell me to "bring it on"! I learned so much from Barry...how to be silly and not take things too seriously, how to be patient, how to enjoy every holiday, and how much work and focus it took to accomplish a goal. He made me laugh, and that's important! We celebrated special occasions, especially his birthday...I always brought him his favorite Long John from Morning Fresh Bakeries! We read The Night Before Christmas together to Sister Carleen and, of course, Barry wore his Santa hat! He always played tricks on us for April Fool's Day ,....again, more laughter! He often talked about his family and extended circle of friends, and how much he loved them, as well as his beloved dog! Later on, Barry volunteered with me at Adrian Community Preschool, and, because of that, was named Volunteer of the Week in the Daily Telegram. He helped cook lunch for the students and read books to them. He was quoted in the Daily Telegram as saying that, "I feel good in my heart when I'm at the preschool", actually, just being around Barry made everyone "feel good in their hearts." I'll always be grateful for my friendship with Barry...it was truly a gift.