Bill Barr

[ITALO TIEZZI]

Bill has left us today.  Last week, in a moment of lucidity, he said: "I've lived a long life and if I die tomorrow, that's ok". I said "Good for you, Bill. I think the same for me!"

P.S.  You "kids" enjoy each moment (wisely, of course).

[Garry Moore]

Good Evening Italo
 
I did not have Bill Barr as a teacher however knew of him at school. I am also aware he was very close friend of yours and so with that in mind I convey my condolences  to  you and also to his family .although I did not know that man I was and am aware he was a good teacher as well as a good human being and well respected by the students he taught ..
 
May God have mercy on his soul and keep him in Heaven where belongs
 
God Bless
 
Garry   Moore
 

---

Date: Sun, 24 Aug 2014 19:51:07 -0700
From: iti...@rogers.com
Subject: [OTHS:1510] Bill Barr
To: ot...@googlegroups.com

Bill has left us today.  Last week, in a moment of lucidity, he said: "I've lived a long life and if I die tomorrow, that's ok". I said "Good for you, Bill. I think the same for me!"

P.S.  You "kids" enjoy each moment (wisely, of course).

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Ottawa Technical High School" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to oths+uns...@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to ot...@googlegroups.com.
Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/oths.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

[Rick Nolan]

Sad, but as Bill realized, inevitable.

Italo, thanks for telling us.  Please let us know details.

Sent from my iPad

[John Stanley]

Very sad. Condolences to family and friends. Especially to you Italo, you appear to have been his very special friend. Thanks for the update. 

John Stanley

Sent from my iPhone

On Aug 24, 2014, at 10:51 PM, ITALO TIEZZI <iti...@rogers.com> wrote:

Bill has left us today.  Last week, in a moment of lucidity, he said: "I've lived a long life and if I die tomorrow, that's ok". I said "Good for you, Bill. I think the same for me!"

P.S.  You "kids" enjoy each moment (wisely, of course).

--

[b...@bsavage.net]

Thank you, Italo, for letting us know.

 

Bill, will be in my thoughts and prayers.

 

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [OTHS:1510] Bill Barr

[Glen Moore]

So sorry to hear the news. Bill was my Guidance Counsellor one year, and I recall he talked Lee Kidder and me into doing a goofy comedy skit he wrote (maybe he saw the real me?). I think he also came with the band on at least one of our Toronto trips. Bill was always approachable and easy to talk to. I was really happy to see him at last year's reunion. The one phrase that comes to mind whenever I think of him: "a really nice guy". Thanks for being such a good friend to him Italo.

[Gary Labelle]

 

I am also sorry to hear of Mr.. Barr's passing, but I am pleased he lived such a long purposeful life. I will always remember him as my Vice Principal and then Principal at Tech. He always treated the students with respect and dignity......until proven guilty of some heinous behavior.....and even then often gave them a second chance to mend their ways or go their way.. I remember once, when I was picked up in front of the school on Albert Street in the possession of a stolen 1951 Red and White Ford convertible with my trombone sticking up from the back seat. It wasn't a pretty site.... with police cars in front of me and behind me with their sirens and lights flashing...."get out of the car young man!" and hauled off to jail.....trombone in tow. Not good for the reputation of the school at all......and I was more worried about that then the car!  The next day I of course was called to the office and met by Mr.. Beck and Mr..McCarthy. I was nervous and probably shaking in my boots,  but there was no need to have been. "So....what was that all about Mr.. Labelle? Are you OK? He was kind and genuinely concerned about me and that I was innocent of any wrong doing until he had all the facts. They both laughed and laughed when I explained that my Dad had bought me the car just the day before not knowing it had been stolen in Toronto earlier in the week and that because the police picked me up so quickly they were able to nab the bad guys before they got out of town. Sweet justice! Anyway that's my big memory of Mr.. Barr. But of course he was there throughout my high school years, watching out for us everyday. Thank you Mr Barr. My sincere condolences to his family and friends.

 

Thank you for passing on the sad news Mr Italo. My condolences to you as his friend of so many years.

Gary Labelle

--

[Gary Labelle]

Crap.....I'm loosing it. Bill was my Guidance Counsellor as well. Sorry. For some reason I placed him as Mr. Beck. Of course I had great respect for Bill as well. He was the one guiding me along the educational paths that Tech had to offer. Sorry guys. My wife thinks I may be in the early stages of dementia/Alzeimers as I seem to be forgetting and confusing bits and pieces of my life. I thought it was just the advancing years. I will be 71 in February. She may be right. Hope not. My Mom (a great fan of Ottawa Tech, the Band and the staff) passed away a few years ago from that dreadful disease. At least I became aware of my error on my own rather quickly after waking up this morning...at least I'm still waking up knowing who I am. Still my heart flutters a little each time I hear of a member otf the Tech alumni passing on and for their friends and family I am sad.

 

Sincerely, Gary

[ITALO TIEZZI]

It's ok Gary, but are you sure you are 71?  You mean I'm only 10 years older than you?

[Garry Moore]

Gary ,
 
Your  comments were well said ,it makes no difference if a bit was maybe was  out to lunch ,God we are not perfect but your feelings were in the right place and I must admit it was the best I have read so far so consider your self human my friend ,,,,,Al Morgan would have said it too so I will say it for him ........I do not know if he had him as a teacher I think we all had him as our guidance councillor, but we all had respect for this kind smart man who was one of the strongest supporters of the band of which we all took part in and remember him well .again we send our condolences to his family and also to Italo his long time personal friend .good to hear from you ,stay well my friend
 
Garry   Moore
 

---

From: jagla...@rogers.com
To: ot...@googlegroups.com
Subject: RE: [OTHS:1517] Re: Bill Barr
Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2014 16:44:50 -0400

[Mike]

Italo,

I'm sorry for your loss.

ttyl

Mike

On Aug 24, 2014, at 10:54 PM, "ITALO TIEZZI" <iti...@rogers.com> wrote:

Bill has left us today.  Last week, in a moment of lucidity, he said: "I've lived a long life and if I die tomorrow, that's ok". I said "Good for you, Bill. I think the same for me!"

P.S.  You "kids" enjoy each moment (wisely, of course).

--

[Gary Labelle]

Garry,

 

Thanks, Im feeling a little better after your kind words Garry......although still a little foolish.....and yes,  Al would have said just that about Bill Barr. I hope you and your family are all well and enjoying the summer weather. I look fofrward to perhaps seeing you and some of the other band members again in the not too distant future. Im guessing Bill's funeral will be a small private family affair as I have seen nothing in the local papers or from this OTHS web site. That's what we did with Mom...as she outlived most of her friends and family except for one sister.

 

Take care

 

Gary L

jagla...@rogers.com

[ITALO TIEZZI]

Gary and all, Bill asked for cremation and  that took place today. His his remains will be buried with his parents in Thunder Bay. He did not care for a funeral. There will be a memorial get together after the summer. I shall advise you of such an event where we can render a toast or two to his memory.
P.S. Someone has hacked (I think that's the word) into my emails and  I want to assure you that I am not in the Philippines and that I do not need money.

I have had things repaired and I have a new password.
Please watch for the obituary in Friday's and Saturday's Citizen.
PPS I am very happy that I took him to the 50th anniversary. He really was pleased.

---

From: Gary Labelle <jagla...@rogers.com>
To: ot...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2014 10:14:31 PM
Subject: RE: [OTHS:1522] Re: Bill Barr

[Gary Labelle]

Jeeze....Mr Tiezzi....I guess maybe I'd better ask my wife? Although I'm not sure if she always tells me truths! We have been married some 43 years now. I wonder if I can still find my birth certificate?

 

I do remember you were very young to be teaching English,History and Geography at a high school level to a bunch of boys (in the technical streams) who probably really wouldn't do very well in the accademic world. But I do remember enjoying your classes very much, although I never really did very well...although you did manage to get me up to a year end (grade 12DA ) final high of 66 in English and 68 in Geography. (still have the report card) Perhaps it was you who sparked my interest in Cartography, where I spent 35 wonderful years mapping Canada under The Canada Land Inventory Program back in the sixties and seventies....and then helping to pioneer Computer Mapping and Geographical Mapping Systems (GIS) under the Father of GIS  Dr. Roger Tomlinson. It was a great ride. 

 

You were always very kind to a very shy young man..not sure of himself or his future at the time...but growing into a self assured young man with goals to achieve....thanks to the teachers and staff of Ottawa Tech. You did very well for such a young man!

 

Take care Mr Tiezzi!

[Italo Tiezzi]

Gary, thank you for the compliments but you deserve more yourself. You will be interested to know that I am a neighbour of Dr. Roger Tomlinson who passed away this year. What a small world indeed! Thank you for your note and chapeau!