Obituaries

St. James front-of-house star Jim Barry dies at the age of 69

The popular usher who introduced The Stoop on 44th Street worked in Broadway theater for 23 years.

Popular serviceman Jim Barry died on August 18 at the age of 69. The news of his death was confirmed by his family.

Born in Brooklyn on July 17, 1955, to James and Philomena Barry, Mr. Barry worked in banking for more than 40 years. He worked for European American Bank before it merged with Citi Bank and then worked for Citi. He was a lifelong theater fan and a dedicated usher at the St. James Theater, where he worked for 23 years at this midtown gem.

As founder of The Stoop on 44th, Mr. Barry was a valued member of the community and one of the few constant fixtures in an industry that is constantly changing. In total, Mr. Barry worked on 23 shows during his tenure at the St. James, completing Illinois‘s running at the venue Boulevard of Twilight‘s loading in.

As condolences poured in on social media, Mr. Barry’s closest friends and colleagues set up a GoFundMe campaign to help his family cover the costs of his sudden loss.

Mr. Barry is survived by his wife Maryann, his sons James John Barry III and Jason Barry, his sister Rosemary, his three grandchildren Ava, Natalie and James, and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins ​​and friends.

The Barry family will receive friends and community members on August 21st from 2-4 p.m. and from 7-9 p.m. at the John Vincent Scalia Home for Funerals, Inc. The receiving address is 28 Eltingville Blvd, Staten Island, New York. A funeral mass will also be held on August 22nd at 11:00 a.m. at St. Clare’s Roman Catholic Church, 110 Nelson Avenue, Staten Island, New York. Plans for an additional theatrical memorial service will be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider making a donation to the Actors Center and Broadway League in Mr. Barry’s memory. He will be greatly missed.