DONALD H. BARRY

Former Alaskan Donald H. Barry, 72, died of heart failure in McLeod Ganj, India, on Aug. 18, 2001.

Mr. Barry was born June 30, 1929 in Oconto, Wis., the son of Earl and Louise Barry. He came to Alaska in 1935 with his parents and family, who were members of the Matanuska Valley agricultural project.

He attended school in Palmer for 11 years, then completed his high school education and associate of arts degree at St. Lawrence College, Mt. Calvary, Wis. He graduated from Seattle University with a bachelor of arts degree in English literature, and received his teacher's credential there in 1956. In the 1980s, he acquired additional degrees in psychology and counseling.

He taught at McClellan Junior High in Sacramento, Calif.; at Wendler Junior High in Anchorage from 1961 to 1962; and at the Department of Education for Indian Affairs high school in Metlakatla from 1962 through 1964.

He taught special education for retarded children at Vallejo, Calif., from 1967 through 1982.

After his retirement as a teacher, his activities had been devoted to helping others, with the visiting nurses and hospice volunteers in San Francisco and counseling.

He always had an interest in philosophy, and had lived in Asia in recent years. At the time of his death, he was studying Buddhism and teaching English to students in Dharmshala, India. The people of the region appreciated his contributions very much. Forty monks from the Dalai Lama's monastery presided over his funeral rites. Conforming with his earlier request, his ashes will be placed in the Pacific Ocean off Singapore.

His family said: "Family and friends will remember Donald for his intellect, enthusiasm, hospitality and gentle sense of humor."

He is survived by his brother, Francis; brothers and sisters-in-law, Melvin and Mary J. Barry and Paul and Beverly Barry; sister and brother-in-law, Janice and Anthony Neff; sister-in-law, Virginia Barry, and numerous nieces and nephews and grandnieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Robert; brother and sister-in-law, Earl and Elizabeth Barry; sisters and brothers-in-law, Marian and Henry Wiese and Helen Simpson Shannon and Earl Simpson and Paul

Shannon.