Edward Thomas Barrett

Edward Thomas Barrett passed away peacefully at Seaview Nursing Home on Monday, December 9th.  Edward was born in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn on April 21st, 1941.  Edward was the loving son of the late Mary Murray Barrett and the late Maurice Barrett.  Stepson to the late Thorleif Andersen.  Brother to the late Robert Barrett.  Edward attended St. Francis College where he joined the Franciscan Brothers in 1959.  He gained his first teaching experience with the Franciscans, teaching 7th and 8th grade.  In 1967, he began a 30 year career with the New York City Department of Education.  Edward started his teaching career at PS31 in New Brighton.  It was here that he discovered his love for teaching but more importantly he found his lifetime love, Mary.  Edward and Mary married in 1969 and purchased their first home on Fort Hill Circle in 1973.  During that same year Edward continued his career at PS45 in West Brighton as a teacher and guidance counselor.  After almost two decades of teaching in elementary schools, Edward accepted a position as a Guidance Counselor at IS61 where he continued counseling until his retirement in 1997.  Education was a lifelong passion for Edward.  His sincerity and compassion made him a memorable teacher to his students.  Many of his colleagues, and the families he was blessed to work with, became lifelong friends.  During his career and his subsequent retirement, Edward pursued many passions.  An avid runner, he rarely missed an opportunity to fit in a jog and in 1984 he completed the NYC Marathon.  Ed also loved to travel.  He built many great memories packing his family into his Volkswagen camper and driving around the country, backpacking and fishing with his friends or escaping with his wife, Mary to their condo in St. Pete’s Beach, FL.  After 9/11, he became a volunteer with the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and Meals on Wheels.  In retirement Edward and Mary moved to a home in West Brighton.  His new neighbors quickly became friends and he cherished his daily walks to the parks, stores and local restaurants.  His daily interactions with the people in his community brought tremendous joy to his life.  As did the many school pickups, trips to the zoo, and park visits with his granddaughters Meghan and Julia.   Edward is survived by his wife Mary, son Paul, daughter Erica, daughter-in-law Jennifer, and granddaughters Meghan and Julia.