May 12, 1935 – February 4, 2014
Barr, Dr. James – With great sorrow, the family of Jim Barr announce his passing on Tuesday, February 4th, in his 79th year, after a courageous struggle with serious illness. He is greatly missed by Lavinia (Vin), his wife and best friend of almost 52 years, and by his sons Alan, Colin (Jennifer), and daughter Katherine (Colin). Also missed by grandchildren Carolyn, James, Gavin, and Madelyn, brother-in-law and sister-in-law George and Janne White and family, the Simons family, cousin Jack Reid, and many other family and friends in Canada, England, Australia, and United States, including from Mohawk College, St. Mark’s United Church, the Second Wind recorder group, St. Joseph’s Estates, and Probus Club. Special thanks to Dr. Bev and staff at St. Peter’s Hospital, for their care and kindness in the last month, and to Dr. Susan Goodwin. Cremation has taken place. Friends will be received by the family, on Thursday, February 27th from 7-9 p.m. at ST. MARK’S UNITED CHURCH, 1 Lyndale Dr. Dundas, where a Celebration of Jim’s Life will be held on Friday February 28, 2014 at 11 a.m. Instead of flowers, memorial donations may be made to. St. Mark’s United Church kitchen renovation fund, or to St. Peter’s Hospital Foundation.
Dear Vin and Family,
It was with great sadness that we received the news about Jim. We will always remember him as a gentleman and a great teacher. We can safely say he was the best teacher we had during our three years at Mohawk College (1980-1983). Mark had the privilege of teaching Jim in a night school computer programming class and he was a good student as well!
He left his mark on many students and that is a legacy you can be very proud of.
Our thoughts are with you all.
Monica and Mark
Copetown, ON
Alan, really sorry to hear about your dad. Been in my thoughts and will continue.
We have been friends with Jim, Vin and family since we arrived in Canada forty four years ago and have enjoyed so many happy times together. We will mss our supper get-togethers, especially Jim’s new recipes and the Christmas Day dinners with the whole family. We will also miss the benefit of Jim’s vast knowledge on many subjects and our mutual love of British comedy shows. He will be sadly missed by so many and we are priviledged to have been friends for so many years. Vin, Alan,Kathy and Colin our thoughts are with you.
Janet and Mike Parker
My parents were friends of vin and Jim from back home in England and they are deeply saddened by the loss of such a loyal friendship. I had the pleasure of meeting Jim and his family in a trip of a lifetime at age 16, I am 44 and it is one of the most memorable trips I have ever had. I also feel pleased that the Noakes/Barr (Pheiffer) friendship carries on for another generation and one day our children will meet over beer( dark ) and cherry brandy and swap BBQ tips like black pepper on corn on the cob is better than butter. Vin I am so sorry for your loss but what a wonderful husband, dad and grandad to remember. You must all feel blessed . Til we meet again xx
For many years Jim was an active member of the Hamilton Section of the Chemical Institute of Canada. It was a great pleasure to work with him in that capacity over several years and to meet him again recently at a Probus Club meeting in Dundas where he introduced me as the speaker of day.
On behalf of my colleagues at the CIC Hamilton Section and myself I extend our deepest condolences to his family. We all cherish his memory.
As a colleague of Jim’s at Mohawk, and for a couple of years a fellow source of discomfort to wayward bureaucrats as co-editor of the faculty newsletter, I’m deeply saddened by his passing. Jim was a great teacher, an intelligent and capable administrator, and to me a good friend with a wicked sense of humour.
My deepest sympathies to Vin and family.
Roger Mann
Dundas
Sending lots of love to all our Canadian family. It’s at times like these that distance really matters. I wish we could all be with you at this sad time. Dad will be over soon on our behalf to see you all. Uncle Jim was so strong throughout and will be missed by many.
Lots of love always
You Aussie family xxxx
Jim purchased a new recorder in Toronto. It was a perfect fit with a wonderful sound. Jim added a new dimension by inviting “Second Wind” to play for the Probus Christmas party. He was a fine gentleman and will always be fondly remembered. Our thoughts and love go out to Vin.
Don & Joyce
Ancaster
Dear Vin,
Not too long ago you, Jim, and I sat together in a waiting room at the Juravinski Hospital, and Jim kept us giggling with his recollections of bizarre doings at Mohawk College. Jim seemed then so full of life that the news of his death came as a great shock to me, as it did to my son Ralph, who greatly valued Jim’s teaching back when he studied at Mohawk College. On occasion I used to play golf with Jim, and I have fond memories of another outing when a group of us, including Jim, spent some days exploring Algonquin Park. Jim and I shared an enthusiasm for teaching / learning, and his contributions as co-editor of The Examiner were greatly appreciated by his colleagues.
Losing a partner of so many years must have been heart-breaking. You have my deepest sympathy. Les