Healed by God, Barry Francis Anthony Kidd met in person, his Lord and Saviour on August 27th, 2019. Accompanying Barry throughout his recent roller coaster ride of health challenges and healings was Nancy Jane Kidd nee Darling for whom he was the love of her life,
Born in 1948, Barry spent his childhood with his parents Ellen and Malcolm and his two older brothers amidst his large extended family including his 84 cousins, in Rhode Island. From his early years, he loved baseball, eventually playing AAA ball. His uncle took him to his first Yankees game when he was 8 and thereafter he loved the New York Yankees. If the Yankees did not make the World Series, the baseball season ended early at the Kidd’s home.
Losing his parents suddenly as a youth, Barry’s teen years were guided by his beloved Godmother in Detroit who traded his attendance at the ballet and chamber music concerts for baseball game tickets. Having accepted a baseball scholarship (which included a convertible!) Barry studied history and political science at Cornell University. He often said he was accepted into the Ivy League because of his average of .385 – this was his batting average. Influenced by the courageous military service of the men in his family, Barry enlisted and ultimately became an Expert Battle Medic in the U.S. Army. He was awarded a Purple Heart by the U.S. President.
On his return to state side, Barry attended Woodstock, finished his degree and then taught high school history in the Bronx. Barry moved to Belleville Ontario in the 1970s. Cross-training in multiple building trades with the Treasury Board, Barry became a licensed Maintenance Journeyman. Barry worked on many Arctic installations including CFS Alert. Barry believed strongly in the labour movement, serving in a number of roles including shop steward, union organizer, president and instructor for PSAC, and the Canadian Labour Congress. Barry continued to play and umpire baseball until it took longer to wrap his joints than a game lasted.
Although unable to be involved with his two children on a regular basis, Barry often thought of and prayed for his son Steven and daughter Theresa Nichole. They were always in his heart.
Barry met Nancy in 1984 and in less than a year, they were married in Morganston, Ontario. Nancy was ill and Barry saved her life, saying if he couldn’t love her in the bad times, he didn’t deserve to love her in the good times. He could not have predicted how wonderful and extensive their good times would be.
In 1990, the couple moved to Yukon Territory. Here Barry’s career and interests went full circle, living first in Whitehorse then in Dawson City 1994-2000 and back to Whitehorse, Barry worked as a building contractor and painter, substitute teacher and in Dawson City volunteered for the Yukon Emergency Medical Service. Barry loved his work with Yukon EMS ambulance, med-evac and community crews. Passionately serving the VASS-Yukon members, Barry enjoyed travelling on every road to Yukon communities in every season. Seeing the world from a cruise ship became his favourite thing to do in his off-time. Finding retirement too quiet, Barry worked as the Occupational Health and Safety Leader for Yukon Continuing Care.
Barry loved his Lord, his children, his nieces and nephews, his pseudo-nieces and pseudo-nephews, his godchildren, his family and his friends – even those he hadn’t met before.
You are invited to drop in to the Celebrating Barry party at Whistle Bend Place on Saturday, September 21 from 1 – 4 PM. A few words will be shared at 3 pm. A funeral mass at Our Lady of the Way, Haines Junction will take place later.
May the Lord watch between me and thee, while we are absent one from another.
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Barry Francis Anthony Kidd..
Décès pour la Ville: Whitehorse, Province: Colombie britanique