Death Notice
MOORE, The Rev. Dr. Barry David – in his 84th year, passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 1, 2018, surrounded by family at University Hospital. He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Anne; his three sons, Christopher, Timothy (Aska) and Paulo; his grandchildren Ken and Monica; and his first wife Erika VonBank and predeceased by his parents, Bramwell Moore and Jean (Kidd) Moore
Barry attended High School at Leaside High in Toronto and enjoyed playing trumpet and baseball. Barry always spoke proudly of his parents. Both of them left school early to help support their families and they were so proud that Barry went on to attend University.
After obtaining a degree in Commerce from the University of Toronto, Barry changed the direction of his life and embarked on Theology studies at Emmanuel College at the University of Toronto, graduating in 1960. Thereafter, he spent five “wonderful” years working as a Parish Minister for the United Church in Beaverlodge, Alberta. In 1965, he chose to further his theological studies at Union Theological Seminary in New York, where he met and was greatly influenced by Rabbi Abraham Heschel.
Following that time of enrichment, he took up a position as Chaplain at the University of Alberta and joined the Faculty at St. Stephen’s College. In late 1969 he was appointed the founding Chair of the Board for MacEwan Community College (now known as MacEwan University).
After completing doctoral studies in Educational Administration at the Faculty of Education, University of Alberta, he began a third career path as College Administrator at Grande Prairie Regional College and then was appointed Founding President of Northern Lights College in the communities of Dawson Creek, Fort St. John and Fort Nelson, in northern British Columbia.
In 1978 he became the second President of Fraser Valley College (now called the University of the Fraser Valley). Then, in 1987, Barry became the third President of Fanshawe College in London, Ontario and held this position until 1996.
Savouring this chapter of his life, he often spoke about walking the halls at Fanshawe College at the beginning of each school year and how he loved the energy that he felt in the institution. He believed strongly in the role of the Community College to educate young people and to help others to turn their lives around. At the time of Barry’s retirement from Fanshawe, he was the longest serving college president in Canada.
After retirement, Barry returned to ministry and served as part-time minister in 11 churches in and around London. It was during this period that he pursued study in an area that had been an interest for many years, Islam, and developed a program on the topic of Islam, Christianity and Judaism which he and colleagues presented in churches, schools and at university-level associations.
Those who knew Barry well would undoubtedly use the same defining adjectives to describe him: kind, humble, caring, intense and open to new ideas. Throughout his life, even in his last days, he cherished interactions with those around him, encouraging them and expressing his appreciation for all that they did for him. His special gift was being able to see the good in everyone. Barry often spoke about how lucky he had been in his life; that he was challenged and enriched by his work and, at every stage of his life, supported by loving family members. Having bracketed his adult life with his work for the United Church of Canada, his message was always that the Church should look forward; he believed that God was no longer to be found in the past but on the road ahead.
Visitation on Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at Harris Funeral Home, 220 St. James Street at Richmond. A memorial service to celebrate Barry’s life will be conducted at First-St. Andrews United Church, 350 Queens Avenue at Waterloo on Monday, December 10 at 11:00 a.m. Cremation with inurnment at Oakland of Mount Pleasant Cemetery. Memorial contributions to the London Health Sciences Foundation (University Hospital) would be appreciated.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Rev Barry Moore 2018..
Death notice for the town of: London, Province: Ontario