Barry Cox

Barry (Barret Vernon Cox) was born October 28, 1962 in Atlantic City, New Jersey to Ron and Vi Cox. Younger brother Brad came on the scene 20 months later. This family of four would lead a close and wonderful life. Childhood homes included brief periods in Wappingers Falls, New York, and Richmond, Virginia, and then the family settled in Harrisonburg, Virginia for all his school years.

After graduating from Harrisonburg High School, Barry earned his BS with two majors (Math/Computer Science and Business Administration) from Bridgewater College (VA) in 1985. While in high school, Barry’s family acquired one of the first Apple personal computers in town. He started his own computer services business, providing database tracking and printed mailing labels to both political parties in the area. While in high school and college, he worked for the local Apple dealer, projected movies for theaters, wrote software for several local businesses, and founded his first business selling custom developed surveying software which he sold throughout the US. After college graduation, Barry then worked for IBM for 22 years doing local customer systems support to management of a worldwide marketing team. Towards the end of that tenure, his second business, SkyRun, was being birthed. In fact, he tried to get laid off from IBM so he’d have a severance package that would help give SkyRun a startup burst, and even though lay-offs were happening around IBM, his manager wouldn’t let him go. He left IBM in 2006 to work on SkyRun full-time with business partner Steve Falk. Today, over 30 SkyRun locations around the US manage over 950 properties to create fun family vacations for guests. SkyRun helps property owners share their homes with others, and SkyRun provides employment income for people at its locations. Barry found a way to work (and play) in the travel industry which he loved.

Barry met Karen when they were in 7th grade. They started dating in 10th grade, and never stopped. They were married between their junior and senior years of college on June 9, 1984. They moved to Charlottesville, Virginia after college graduation. Mik (known as Michael back then) was born in 1992 in Charlottesville. They moved to Richmond, Indiana for Karen’s Master’s Degree (Divinity) in 1995. Anne was born in Richmond, IN in 1996. The family moved to Colorado in 1999. Barry loved living in Colorado. Skiing and hiking were favorite activities. After a vacation away, he was known to return home and say, “Why did we go away when we have all this beauty right here?”

Yet traveling was a bug he caught early. By the time he finished middle school, his parents had taken him to all 48 of the contiguous United States. Barry and Karen got to Alaska and Hawaii, so that he had all 50 in long before he turned 50 (a bucket list item). National Parks have always been favorite destinations. As an adult, he spent much of his non-working time planning for travel and making trips happen for the family around the US and abroad. He enjoyed traveling for work as well.

Other hobbies included woodworking using skills he learned in his father’s shop (furniture in the home including dining table, shelves, cabinets), cars (the Miata convertible, 2nd hand German cars, the hated but practical minivans, the Tesla), skiing (mostly downhill but also some cross-country), and playing cards and games (which he unapologetically played to win). Barry and his brother even managed to find a way to continue their lifelong competitiveness when they found themselves living 2000 miles apart with frequent online games of Backgammon and Splendor. Barry was a technology geek (latest in computers, phones, drones, home automation, Matterport 3D camera for photographing SkyRun properties, and most recently a laser engraving printer). Hopefully, Karen will be able to function (use the TV, turn lights on and off, open and close automated window blinds, work door locks, drive the car, etc.) without bothering the kids too often for help. Barry also enjoyed home building projects. His creativity came out in home renovation projects, in overseeing home building projects, and in designing and overseeing the building of his SkyRun Cabin where he was able to do some of the work himself. The Cabin is renting out great!

Barry grew up attending Harrisonburg First Church of the Brethren with his family. When he started dating Karen, she joined them in attending. While in Charlottesville, they were active in the Charlottesville Church of the Brethren. He served on various committees including the committee that added a new sanctuary onto the building. He supported Karen’s seminary attendance in Richmond, IN; there they attended a few Church of the Brethren congregations. And since being in Colorado, they’ve been active at Boulder Mennonite Church (BMC). Barry served with Trustees maintaining building and grounds, worked with finances, and was instrumental in the purchase of, move to, and renovations of the current church building. He was also a wonderful ‘Pastor’s Spouse’ during the 12 years that Karen served as BMC’s pastor. Participation in a faith community was meaningful to Barry. He saw Jesus’ life and teachings as a model for living. He believed in God whose primary calling is to love. His version of spirituality valued relationships with good people wanting to make a positive difference in the world. He saw the Divine in nature. He enjoyed the company of others where love and laughter and care and integrity were evident.

Music has always been important to Barry. His parents did make him take the obligatory piano lessons as a child. He played French horn from upper elementary through college. He played electric bass for the high school jazz band. Like many young adults, he had favorite music bands. He regularly updated his stereo system. But he is most known for his banjo playing. He started playing after watching his beloved Uncle Mick play; it was Uncle Mick’s banjo that he used. He and 2 buddies had a bluegrass band (“The Working Grass”) in high school. They played in bars they weren’t old enough to legally enter as patrons. While bluegrass and banjo aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, he got lots of encouragement to keep playing. He was one of the founders of the Bluegrass Group at Boulder Mennonite Church, and he treasured being part of the gang. He was even taking lessons earlier this year to learn “clawhammer style” banjo playing (as opposed to the Scruggs style that he used).

Barry loved family. He loved his family of origin. Relationships stayed close. And he loved the family he built with Karen. He enjoyed Mik and Anne at all ages and has been a proud dad all along the journey. He not only loved them, but he liked them as well. He very much enjoyed spending time with them - traveling, skiing, hut trips, games, working in the woodshop, having Mik in the bluegrass group, building the house deck with Anne, and sharing aspects of running SkyRun with them. And he warmly welcomed Aaron and Victoria into the family. His most treasured times were times with family.

Barry died at home on May 10, 2021 at 58 years of age after a long battle with esophageal cancer. He is survived by his parents Ron & Vi Cox (Bridgewater, VA), brother and sister-in-law Brad & Sue Cox (Forest, VA) and their children, wife Karen Cox (Wondervu, CO), son & partner Mik Cox & Victoria Nakagawa (Chicago, IL), and daughter & son-in-law Anne Cox & Aaron Miller (Longmont, CO).

A service celebrating Barry’s life will be held Sunday, May 16, 2021, at 2:00 pm MST at Boulder Mennonite Church, 3910 Table Mesa Dr., Boulder, CO 80403. The service will also be available over Zoom. All are welcome. If you plan to join in, please rsvp to randy@bouldermennonite.org letting him know if you will be present in person or if you will join via Zoom.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to a charity of your choice or to one of the following organizations:

Boulder Mennonite Church, bouldermennonite.org.

Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp, rmmc.org.

Cancer Research Institute, cancerresearch.org.

Victor Wooten Center for Music and Nature, vixcamps.com.