Newburgh Free Academy Memorial
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Bernard Barnes - Teacher

Delete this post Submitted by Fran Olson Gustafson 1965 <fgustafson917@gmail.com> on 25/Dec/2016
75.172.229.92

    Bernard A. Barnes, 87, devoted father to two daughters, died peacefully at Vassar Brothers Medical Center on Friday, December 16, 2016 after a short illness. Bernie, as he was known, was born in 1929 in New York City to the late Walter Barnes and Kazimiera (Katherine) Sobeka Barnes. He attended Stuyvesant High School in Manhattan, graduating with a major in Science in January 1948. He attended Ithaca College, but left after two years to join the Air Force where he served as a Staff Sergeant from 1951 - 1954. Although Bernie did not graduate from Ithaca College, it was there where he met his future wife, the former Christine (Chris) Gallo. The two were married on August 23, 1953 at Church of the Holy Rosary in the Bronx. Upon his discharge from the Air Force, Bernie joined Chris, who had settled in Highland several years earlier. Together they lived in Highland where they built a home and raised their two daughters, Bernadette and Patricia. Summer vacations and school holidays would find the family at the vacation residence they built in Amagansett, on the east end of Long Island. Once settled in Highland, Bernie continued his education at the State University Teachers College in New Paltz where, in 1957, he received a BS degree in Art Education. He followed that with an MS in Art Education in 1960 and eventually earned his School Administrator and Supervisor Certification. After earning his degree, Bernie began his career teaching art in the Newburgh City School District. In 1970 he was named Art Director for the district, a position he held until his retirement in 1984. Throughout his life, Bernie enjoyed sharing his life, knowledge and skills with his family and friends. His talent and love of art and photography were passed along to his daughters who, from the time they were young, spent many hours taking pictures and developing them in the darkroom that was set up in the family s home. Following his retirement from years of service in education, Bernie continued to teach and share the knowledge and experience he gained while building and maintaining two homes. He had an affinity for working on home improvement projects and his eyes would light up whenever the subject of another renovation came up. He could often be found at the homes of his children working with them on roofing, ceramic tiling, sheet rocking or painting projects.


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NFA Class Memorial Page

This is an Interactive Memorial Page ........ Please contribute !
Please add information you have on any alumni that have passed away.... When , where, how, obituary, & pictures if possible.
I will add a class picture and any other picture you or I may have.
If any errors are made email me and I will correct.
If you still don't feel confident.. Email the info and I will post for you. w.norvell@att.net
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