James Matthew Barber Obituary June 28, 1942 – January 28, 2021
At peace with the world and released from his pain, James Matthew Barber passed away under the
compassionate care and expertise of the staff of the Margaret Behan Hospice in Newmarket, Ontario, on
January 28, 2021, after a maddeningly short but valiant battle with cancer. He was just 78.
Born in Orangeville, Ontario, James spent his first years living on Royal Canadian Air Force Bases while
his father was Flight Instructor with the Commonwealth Air Training Program during the Second World
War. Postwar, the family moved to Newmarket, where James spent all but one year of the remainder of
his life. In 1967 he was hired by the Town of Newmarket and remained part of the municipal staff until
his retirement in 2000. Through his 33-year career, he held various management and administrative
positions, including transit and solid waste manager, deputy treasurer and director of administration,
although he is best remembered for managing Newmarket Transit throughout the entirety of his tenure.
Upon learning of his passing, several former colleagues commented on his legacy with The Town of
Newmarket, remarking on his leadership skills, wisdom, and the inclusiveness of the work environment
he created. He was dubbed a ‘gentle giant’ and the ‘Great White Father’ by staff and was seen as a
friend and mentor by all he worked with, regardless of their place in the pecking order. As an indelible
mark of the respect in which James was held by the municipality a street, Jim Barber Court, just off Main
Street North, was named in his honour shortly after his retirement. His commitment to excellence in
local transit continued post-retirement as he helped integrate local transit in a county-wide project as a
professional consultant for York Region.
A lifelong aficionado of model trains, James and his wife of 34 years, Julie, spent their spare time and
much of their retirement building backyard model railroads that generated both media attention and
hundreds of visitors each year. The two of them were considered leaders within the model railroad
community, particularly the Backyard Railroaders Club, of which they were members since its formation
in 2003. Many of their closest friends in recent years came from this club, whose members similarly
lauded James for his dedication, his good humour, and his hospitality as a host to many club meetings
and open houses at his spread on Carlson Drive.
Pre-deceased by mother Gladys (nee Fairey), father James Leslie and infant sister Leslie Ann, James is
survived by his wife Juliette (Julie, nee Lavas), his first wife Della (nee Walker), son James C.M. Barber of
Napanee, daughter Christa A.M. Lacey (Alan) of Tottenham and grandchildren Hayden and Camden, as
well as several cousins.
The family extends their most sincere appreciation to the hard-working and accommodating staff at
Southlake Regional Health Centre, particularly the doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners and
administrative team in the Emergency Department, Fifth Floor Surgical Ward, Palliative Care and the
Stronach Regional Cancer Centre. The kindness, efficiency and expertise of Drs. Harold Yuen, and Shaqil
Kassam are especially appreciated by the immediate family for helping them navigate through the rapid
pace of James’ disease and prognosis.
In his last weeks, James also received superlative care in his home thanks to Lorraine Green and the staff
of GreenLafleur HomeCare, who continue to provide special care for his wife during this difficult time.
Words cannot truly express the gratitude that both James Jr. and Christa have for the care and support
offered to their dad and stepmother by Earl and Marilyn Graves. Long-time friends and fellow model
train enthusiasts, this couple spent countless hours offering companionship and invaluable practical
support during what was a stressful, complex and ever-changing situation.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Roadhouse & Rose Funeral Home, with both interment at
the Newmarket Cemetery and a private memorial to come this spring. In lieu of flowers, the family
would prefer donations be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, The Southlake Foundation or The
Margaret Behan Hospice.
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Thursday January 28th 2021
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de James Matthew Barber Thursday January 28th 2021..
roadhouse and rose funeral home
Décès pour la Ville:Newmarket, Province: Ontario