Friends, family remember Barnes By JACKIE MAJERUS , The Bristol Press 02/14/2004 BRISTOL -- With poems and prayers, songs and heartfelt remembrances, about 200 people -- family, friends and community leaders -- gathered Friday to honor former Bristol Press Publisher Bart Barnes. Held at the First Congregational Church, the memorial service for Barnes, who worked tirelessly for nearly every major civic organization in Bristol, drew representatives from most of those groups as well as city officials, a congresswoman and Barnes’ friends in the world of Connecticut journalism. Barnes’ granddaughter Edie Sonne Hall remembered Barnes, who died Monday at age 96, as an involved grandfather who brought her, as a Yale student, to his Class of ’29 gatherings. She recalled sharing molasses crisp cookies, feeding the birds in his backyard and walks with him in Page Park "and always picking up trash along the way." She said he loved the Boston Red Sox and tried hard to sway family members to his team. "He liked rivalries more for building camaraderie than anything else," Hall said. Bart Barnes Jr. said his dad joined in everything with gusto, recalling a Red Sox-Orioles game in Baltimore when he tried to dance the Macarena during the seventh inning stretch. "That was indeed a sight to behold," his son said. When she planned to hike the Appalachian Trail several years ago, said Hall, her grandfather offered support, encouragement and even trained with her to prepare for the journey. When she made the trek, he followed her progress on the Internet -- he was the first in the family to get e-mail, she said -- and charted her way on a map. Barnes’ daughter Barbara Barnes read a Dr. Seuss selection called "My Uncle Terwilliger on the Art of Eating Popovers." She said it was a favorite of her father’s, one that he read at gatherings ranging from weddings to bank directors ’ meetings. "He was very good at combining humor and making a point," Barbara Barnes said. Daughters Sally Barnes Sonne and Sam Barnes read poetry by Robert Browning and Robert Frost. Elmer Madsen, a close friend of Barnes, called him "an angel here in Bristol" for all the work he did for the community. Madsen said Barnes often worked behind the scenes to get others involved. "You wouldn’t always see him in front," said Madsen. Madsen, who said Barnes "never really slowed down," said he got his energy and enthusiasm from the boy within. "Inside of this man Bart was a kid, a young boy," said Madsen. Madsen said Barnes and a publisher pal from Meriden, the late Carter White, believed that after a toast at a Rotary function, the glasses must be tossed into the fireplace. "We did that in several restaurants and were never allowed back," said Madsen. Bart Barnes Jr. said his father worked hard at The Bristol Press and in many Bristol organizations because he enjoyed it. "He never thought of it as burdensome," his son said, and thanked the people at the service for giving his father their friendship. "He loved The Bristol Press, he loved Bristol and he loved you," said Barnes. Barnes’ caretaker, Esther Addo, said she was alone with him when he died peacefully at his Belridge Road home Monday afternoon. Addo, who took care of Barnes around the clock for nearly a year, said she liked working for him because he was so appreciative of everything she did for him. "I will miss him," Addo said. Congresswoman Nancy Johnson, a New Britain Republican whose district used to include Bristol and who met Barnes when she first ran for Congress in the early ’80s, attended the service. Barnes "didn’t ask the traditional questions," said Johnson. "Conversations were always an adventure with him." Johnson said she could always get a good "temperature of the community" by talking with Barnes. The Him Singers, a men’s vocal ensemble that Barnes had belonged to, performed several songs at the service, including one of Barnes’ favorites, "Let the Lower Lights be Burning." The Rev. Earl Keirstead said Barnes was "a great man of faith" who attended church regularly and liked to sit in the back. "We always reserved a place for him," said Keirstead, who said Barnes was in church as recently as Christmas Eve. Former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Barbara Franklin, who lives in Bristol and attended the service, said Barnes was "always upbeat." Her husband, Wallace Barnes, a distant relative of Bart Barnes, remembered flying Barnes and some others to a Soap Box Derby event in Akron, Ohio about 50 years ago. Wallace Barnes said it was the first time Bart Barnes had been in a small plane, and he was so interested that he asked "about 1,000 questions." Republican Registrar Ellie Klapatch said Barnes was always interested in what others had to say. Dr. Gerald Jensen said Barnes took part in a neighborhood carol sing each Christmas. "He was my lead singer," said Jensen. Former Bristol Press Publisher Lindsley Wellman, who was working at the New Britain Herald in 1958 when he first met Barnes, said his friend had a "marvelous" sense of humor. Barnes, Wellman and others worked through the Connecticut Daily Newspaper Association to meet common challenges and to try to use their collective power to gain national advertising accounts, said Wellman. "He was one of those people that everyone loved," said Wellman. Even when the news wasn’t all good, said Wellman, Barnes would "always try to find a positive way to spin it." The Barnes family has created an Internet site honoring Bart Barnes where friends and family can contribute remembrances. The address is www.edieandbrian.com/ bartbarnes. ©The Bristol Press 2004 E. Bart Barnes is a descendant of Thomas Barnes (1615-1688) of Hartford, CT. Thomas Barnes was one of the first 40 settlers of Hartford, CT.