A memorial will be held on Saturday, January 23rd for H. John Barry lll of Long Beach who passed away December 9, 2009. He was 58.
As a charter member of Long Beach Lambda Democratic Club, John Barry sewed the first Lambda banner that was carried in the Long Beach Gay Pride Parade nearly three decades ago. He was a courageous crusader for equal rights at a time when risks were high and it was not as easy as it is today. John volunteered anywhere and everywhere for gay and lesbian causes. When the Boy Scouts won their case to deny gays the right to serve as troop leaders, John quietly mailed back his Eagle Scout pin, with a letter.
John was born in Cascade, Idaho and grew up in Hanford, California; a rural and conservative area. He was a member of the 4H club, a champion swimmer, and an Eagle Scout. After college in San Luis Obispo, he moved to Long Beach, where he met his long time partner, Norman Louscher, while working as a waiter at The Reef. Sadly, he eventually sewed a panel for his partner, Norm, for the AIDS Memorial Quilt. Most recently, he was in Property Management, and attending Law School. John loved to golf and travel abroad and had visited Japan, Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Egypt.
John has been on the Board of Directors of the Long Beach Gay & Lesbian Center, and has served as Chair. Inspired to help provide badly needed services for people affected by HIV/AIDS, he was one of the Founding members of the Board of Directors of the Long Beach AIDS Foundation and is a member to this day. He served as the Chair of the AIDS Foundation Golf Tournament, an event to raise money for the Foundation. He has been one of the valuable volunteers, staying up until 2:00 a.m. putting together table decorations or laminated advertisements for sponsors in the golf tournament. In October 2009, he was honored by Long Beach Lambda Democratic Club at their Human Rights Banquet.
John is survived by his parents Herb and Irene (Mickey) Barry of Hanford, brother Stan (Janice) Barry, nephews Ben (Carrie) Rico, Bryce and Caleb Rico, Justin and Jordan Barry all of Lemoore, and his sister Gina (Ron) Dias, nieces Brynne Altamirano, and Shea Dias and nephew Ty Dias all of Hanford.
John touched many lives, and will be greatly missed by those who knew him. The memorial remembrance will take place at 27 Temple, Long Beach. Remembrances may be made to Serra Project 638 E. Sunrise, Long Beach, CA. 90806