Bruce Humiston Barber

Bruce Humiston Barber, 85, nn, a retired naval architect died at home June 14 after an illness of 4 months. Formerly of Schenectady and Glens Falls, New York, he had been a resident of Northern Virginia since 1962.

Mr. Barber had worked for the U.S. Coast Guard and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) until his retirement. He began employment in the Design Branch of the Coast Guard's Naval Engineering Division in 1961 following his graduation from the University of Michigan. he was involved in the design of most of the Coast Guard vessels built in the 1960's and 1970's and was head of the Hull Section for several years before leaving to work for NOAA in 1976.

At NOAA, Mr. Barber was the technical adviser for naval architecture in the fleet operations office, which at that time operated up to two dozen government research vessels. From 1990 until his retirement in 1997, he was also engaged in NOAA fleet modernization activities.

He was a member of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers and the American Society of Naval Engineers.

His passion for sailing included 25 years of sailing on the Chesapeake Bay in his 25-foot Cape Dory sailboat, the Nancy Dawson, which was named for an old sailors' drinking song. He sailed from a marina in Shady Side, Maryland, up until 2021 when he felt it was time to pass his boat to a younger generation of sailing enthusiasts. He knew the Bay's inlets like the back of his hand and was never happier than when he was anchored in a quiet cove.

Mr. Barber was an avid photographer and woodworker. He was also a 3-time marathon runner and a softball enthusiast. He was a 25-year member of the Northern Virginia Senior Softball league. One of his team managers recalled Bruce as "the nicest man you'll ever meet." He was a 3-time NVSS All-Star as well. He was also an avid fan of the Michigan Wolverines and the Washington Nationals.

His marriage to Louise Cataldo ended in divorce, but the marriage gave him the two children who made him the proudest father imaginable: his daughter Laura and son Mike.

His second wife, Sharon Shay, died in 2010.

Survivors include his wife Marjorie Craig Barber, his daughter Laura Barber Tonelson and son-in-law Jed Tonelson of Gaithersburg, MD; his son Michael Barber and daughter-in-law Erin Barber of Aldie, VA; his brother David Spear Barber of Moscow, ID; four grandchildren: Daniel (fiancee Ariana) and Matthew Tonelson (wife Jordan) and Ryan and Sophie Barber; and step-daughter Kelly Craig of Philadelphia.

A memorial service is being planned for Oct. 29 at the Waterford in Springfield, VA, where Mr. and Mrs. Barber held their wedding reception in 2012.