Stanley Alexander Barry

Born May 5, 1944, Stan grew up in Tyrone, PA, raised by his maternal grandparents. Under the tutelage of his grandfather, Stan began clarinet lessons at the age of 5. He gained early performance experience playing in the instrumental ensemble at church. He played saxophone and clarinet in the school bands in elementary and high school. Stan also played tenor drum in the local drum and bugle corps, and, at age 15, Stan marched with the corps for John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Parade.

In 1960, Stan moved to Illinois, where he graduated, in 1962, from Mundelein High School. Though he had left Tyrone, his heart was there with those school friends, and had participated in Tyrone’s high school reunions several times through the years.

Stan joined the U. S. Navy right after high school as a Navy musician and began a 20 year career which took him, literally, around the world. His first Navy Band was in Iceland, and subsequent assignments took him to Charleston, SC, Norfolk, VA, and New Orleans. Stan was deployed on 7 ships and toured Europe, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and did a round the world cruise on the USS America. The USS America deployment took him to the Gulf of Tonkin off the coast of Vietnam. Stan was very proud to be a Vietnam veteran, and his Vietnam veteran ball cap was a frequent accessory. While aboard ship, the bands were assigned duties outside of performing music, but they also provided music for ceremonies and entertainment on the ship, as well as performing on shore for audiences in the many ports of call. Stan was proficient in many styles of music from “Bach to Rock”. He often wrote arrangements for the various units he led.

After retiring from the U.S. Navy in 1982, Stan became the band director for Aurora Gardens Academy in New Orleans, LA. Stan had a great gift and love for teaching and grew the band program from 12 students to 250. The school was K-8, but most of his students were 4th through 6th graders. Their motto was “we do what the big kids do”. He arranged music to suit the skills and instrumentation of the school band, in order to make the band sound its best. Stan took them to perform at festivals in Six Flags Houston and Atlanta, appeared at the World’s Fair in New Orleans, Sea World, Orlando, and Disney World. A very proud moment was Stan leading the band for a pre-game show for the New Orleans Saints football team. During these years, he also served as instrumental director at Oak Park Baptist Church and Metairie Baptist Church.

Life took him to Wisconsin where Stan entered an apprenticeship to repair brass and woodwind instruments. It was to become one of the wisest investments of his time and talent in years to come.

Stan met his wife, Sharon, at the Navy Band in New Orleans, and they were married in 1980. Sharon’s Navy career took them to San Diego in 1989. Not content to simply be a “camp follower”, Stan found his niche in every place they lived. While in San Diego, he attended Point Loma Nazarene University, finishing his degree in church music in 1993, at the age of 48.He also repaired instruments, served churches as minister of music, played sax in a local jazz band, and directed the Shrine Band for Al Bahr temple.

A short 18 months in Charleston, SC was followed by a move to the Washington, DC area in 1995. Stan served Belle View Baptist Church as minister of music for several years, continuing to repair instruments in his shop at home. He moved to Columbia Baptist Church in Falls Church, VA where he was the orchestra director and the dean of the Columbia Institute of Fine Arts. He always sought to use his talents where there was need.

After his wife’s retirement from the Navy, they settled in Jacksonville, FL. For several years in the mid 2000’s, Stan was the band director for University Christian School, leading them in district festivals, as well as school concerts, and marching for football half time shows. He served as minister of music for Forest Boulevard Baptist Church 11 years, directing the choir, and, often, bringing instrumental ensembles to augment special presentations.

In 2004 Stan began participation with Global Missions Project, a music mission organization that not only performs around the world, but works with local churches and schools in those countries to help them improve their playing skills. Stan’s training and experience repairing instruments became an integral part of his contribution to these trips. He also loved that this organization seeks to share the gospel of Christ through the expression of music. He went on 18 mission trips, playing sax or clarinet, and spent many hours repairing instruments for all comers. He was something of a rock star in places like Cuba and Guatemala, where they have few resources to get supplies or repairs. He often repaired instruments at home and donated them to people in need. These travels also took him to Brazil, Israel, and Jordan. There are repair technicians in these countries today who learned much of the craft, while mentoring with Stan.

Stan was predeceased by his parents, Stanley A. Barry, Sr., Patricia Barry, and Ruth Marzano, a brother, Kenneth Barry, and a grandson, Alexander Cherry. Survivors include his wife of 41 years, Sharon, of the home, his mother in law, Ruth Monger, of the home, a son, Richard Barry (Pennye), of Kingsport, TN, a daughter, Rhonda Cherry (Eric), of Virginia Beach, VA, and a daughter, Alice Baird, of Pearl River, LA, Four granddaughters, Sarah Ellis (Todd), Corissa Cherry, Amanda Cherry, and Megan Barry, Two grandsons, Dustin Baird and Tom Brustowicz (Tiffany), and two great grandsons, Liam Brustowicz and Connor Baird.

A visitation for Stan will be held Monday, September 13, 2021 from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM at Hardage-Giddens Chapel Hills Funeral Home, 850 St. Johns Bluff Road North, Jacksonville, FL 32225, followed by a service at 12:30 PM. A graveside service will be held at the Jacksonville National Cemetery, 4083 Lannie Road, Jacksonville, FL at 2:30 PM.

In lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged to Global Missions Project, 1720 Mars Hill Road, Suite 120-371, Acworth, GA 30101