Peter J. Barrett

Peter was born in Danbury on October 11, 1951, the youngest son of the late John R. and Dorothea (Gildea) Barrett. He was a graduate of Danbury High School (Class of 1970), majored in Business/Criminal Justice at University of New Haven, and later completed his MSA in Public/Non-Profit Administration at Western Connecticut State University.

Throughout his life, Peter thrived in a wide range of roles. He began his career at the Bethel Police Department, rising through the ranks to become a detective sergeant. After 13 years in law enforcement, he taught himself to program and developed custom software systems for clients including Chase, Citibank, and the state of Connecticut. Eventually, the classroom emerged as his true calling, and he helped shape countless middle schoolers' minds — and both he and his students had fun while he was at it.

As both an educator and an avid golfer, Peter was dissatisfied with the lack of opportunities to share his love of the sport with his two young children — so he started the Connecticut Junior Golf Association. The CJGA was one of the first organizations of its kind, making golf accessible to thousands of kids through summer camps and other programs. Peter also inaugurated the Bethel High School golf team and coached the team over the next fifteen years, fostering a whole new generation of golf enthusiasts.

Peter also coached the Mock Trial teams for both Bethel Middle School and Bethel High — leading both teams to state championships within the same school year, the first time ever that both titles were won by the same school district. With no legal background, his coaching efforts earned recognition from the Greater Danbury Bar Association, who awarded him the 2013 Liberty Bell Award, given annually to a “non-lawyer who has contributed significantly to the legal community.”

But his greatest role was as the heart of his family. A devoted husband, he spent 39 wonderful years married to his high school sweetheart, Sheila, who passed away in 2012. He was a caring father to his two children Peter and Elizabeth, was like a father to his daughter-in-law Jean, and relished time spent with his infant grandson James. His kindness, generosity, sense of humor, and excellent cooking skills were well loved and will be missed by all.

In addition to his parents and wife, Sheila (McCarthy) Barrett, Peter was preceded in death by his older sister Marguerite and older brother John.

He is survived by his children and grandson: Peter M. Barrett, his wife Jean Huang, and their son James Barrett, all of Beacon, NY; and Elizabeth Barrett, also of Beacon. He is also survived by one sister, Ann Sullivan, and her husband, Mark, of Port Charlotte, FL; one brother, Richard Barrett, and his wife Carryle of Ocala, FL; numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews; and many cherished friends and colleagues.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30am on Wednesday, August 12, 2015 at St. Mary’s Church, Bethel, with the Rev. Corey Piccinino, Pastor, officiating. Burial will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery.

Friends will be received from 4pm-8pm on Tuesday, August 11, 2015 at the Green Funeral Home, 57 Main St., Danbury.

Memorial contributions in Peter’s memory may be made to The Scotty Fund, PO Box 1080, Bethel, CT 06801 or go to www.scottyfund.org or to the charity of one’s choice.