| Graduation Year | Class of 1971 |
| Date of Passing | Apr 26, 2016 |
| About | Barry was the beloved son of the late Norman W. and Beatrice M. Levine, brother of Diane Ambur (Owen), Susan Levine, Larry Levine (Arthur Windreich) and Jody White. Uncle of Kara Pokras (Clinton Thomas), Jesse (Kait), Dylan, and Summer White, great uncle of Cameron, Calvin, and Cooper Thomas. Barry was born at Providence Hospital in Washington, DC on August 14, 1953, and died at the Washington Hospital Center on April 26, 2016. Barry had an amazing sense of humor and a lightning-fast wit. He loved to make his family and friends laugh, even as he spent the last two years of his life in and out of hospitals and skilled nursing facilities. Barry’s early life was a moving experience. In fact, he lived in Adelphi, MD, Charleston, WV, Richmond, VA, and Wheaton, MD all before he was seven years old. By the time he was ten, his family settled in Silver Spring, where Barry started his life-long habit of making good friends, some of whom knew Barry for over fifty years. As a child, Barry had a hammer for a rattle and a nail for a pacifier. His love of woodworking and construction began at a very early age. At the age of twelve, he was the project manager and did most of the construction work to finish his basement for his Bar Mitzvah reception and to build a cedar closet for his mother. Growing up, Barry was a swimmer on the Forest Knolls Swim Team. While he enjoyed swimming in many different events, he was best remembered for his butterfly. His love of swimming led to working several summers at Daleview Pool as a lifeguard. After graduating from Northwood, Barry studied Industrial Arts Education at the University of Maryland. Upon receiving his degree, Barry worked as a long-term substitute teacher at several Montgomery County schools, including Northwood. Barry's career took him in many directions, but kept coming back to his talent for all things do-it-yourself. Early on, he worked independently as The Wood Tailor, crafting cabinetry and other custom-designed projects. He also worked at Home Depot. He developed his talents as a project manager at The Great Indoors and perfected them at Smiley Renovations. After Barry's father died in 1983, Barry stepped up to help his mother run the family-owned gift shop, The Unendangered Species, first in White Flint Mall, and then in Ballston Common. His talent for befriending customers was as evident as his ability to see the world in sixty-fourths of an inch. Barry could look at a store display, move one or more objects an imperceptible amount, and then pronounce the display was now “Barry perfect.” It would not be surprising to find out that when Barry met G-d at the Pearly Gates, Barry brought his WD-40 so the gates would not squeak when he entered, and then aligned the gates so that they correctly closed together. He then likely told G-d the Gates were now “Barry perfect” as he entered the Kingdom of Heaven. Barry was a splendid son, bodacious brother, noble nephew, creative cousin, unbelievable uncle, great great-uncle, fantastic friend, and a husband that was second to…his two ex-wives. Barry, his brother and his three sisters were like a starfish—five siblings stretching out in the world in their own ways, while always staying connected in the center. Now, having lost one of their arms, his siblings may forever be off balance, but their love for him and memories of him will keep them always moving forward. |
