Barry, 88, grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1952, about 65 years ago, he had what he thought would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience as a young Army cadet stationed in Boca Raton, Florida – the chance to fly solo in a Piper J3. Though it was a rare and brief opportunity, it was an experience and feeling that would stay with Barry for the rest of his life.
At 17 years old, Barry joined the service in Boca Raton, Florida where he spent more than 5 years involved in ordinance supply missions, bringing ammunition and artillery to troops on the ground. Barry’s military career required him to move from state to state, base to base, and he ended his military career in a unit stationed in Alaska.
After leaving the Army, Barry went home and pursued higher education at the University of Pittsburgh and earned his Ph.D. in Audiology. After starting a family, leaving his home state and Alma Mater, Barry began research work at the University of Chicago. His time there would lead to an amazing opportunity in Denmark to study alongside his European Research colleagues.
As if serving in the Armed Forces and going on to earn a Ph. D. in Audiology wasn’t enough, Barry’s propensity to help others never came to a halt after retirement. While still living in Florida, Barry devoted a great deal of his off-time reading to blind and dyslexic adults and children, many of which would go on to become doctors, accomplishing many other great feats as well.
Since losing his wife, Barry moved to the Brookdale North Euclid older adult community in Ontario, California where he continues to give back and remain active. For most of his life, Barry has dreamed of getting back into the seat of Piper J3. Wish of a Lifetime and Brookdale were happy to team up and honor Barry’s life of service to his family and country by sending him to re-experience the exhilaration of flight on November 25, 2017 at the DuBois Aviation Academy in Chino, California.
Photo credit: Alex Grechman Photography
