BARBER, James Matthew - (June 28, 1942 – January 28, 2021) -
At peace with the world and released from his pain, James Matthew Barber passed away under the compassionate care and expertise of the staff of the Margaret Behan Hospice in Newmarket, Ontario, on January 28, 2021, after a maddeningly short but valiant battle with cancer. He was just 78.
Born in Orangeville, Ontario, James spent his first years living on Royal Canadian Air Force Bases while his father was Flight Instructor with the Commonwealth Air Training Program during the Second World War. Postwar, the family moved to Newmarket, where James spent all but one year of the remainder of his life.
In 1967 he was hired by the Town of Newmarket and remained part of the municipal staff until his retirement in 2000. Through his 33-year career, he held various management and administrative positions, including transit and solid waste manager, deputy treasurer and director of administration, although he is best remembered for managing Newmarket Transit throughout the entirety of his tenure.
Upon learning of his passing, several former colleagues commented on his legacy with The Town of Newmarket, remarking on his leadership skills, wisdom, and the inclusiveness of the work environment he created. He was dubbed a ‘gentle giant’ and the ‘Great White Father’ by staff and was seen as a friend and mentor by all he worked with, regardless of their place in the pecking order. As an indelible mark of the respect in which James was held by the municipality a street, Jim Barber Court, just off Main Street North, was named in his honour shortly after his retirement. His commitment to excellence in local transit continued post-retirement as he helped integrate local transit in a county-wide project as a professional consultant for York Region.
A lifelong aficionado of model trains, James and his wife of 34 years, Julie, spent their spare time and much of their retirement building backyard model railroads that generated both media attention and hundreds of visitors each year. The two of them were considered leaders within the model railroad community, particularly the Backyard Railroaders Club, of which they were members since its formation in 2003. Many of their closest friends in recent years came from this club, whose members similarly lauded James for his dedication, his good humour, and his hospitality as a host to many club meetings and open houses at his spread on Carlson Drive.
Predeceased by mother Gladys (nee Fairey), father James Leslie and infant sister Leslie Ann, James is survived by his wife Juliette (Julie, nee Lavas), his first wife Della (nee Walker), son James C.M. Barber of Napanee, daughter Christa A.M. Lacey (Alan) of Tottenham and grandchildren Hayden and Camden, as well as several cousins.
The family extends their most sincere appreciation to the hard-working and accommodating staff at Southlake Regional Health Centre, particularly the doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners and administrative team in the Emergency Department, Fifth Floor Surgical Ward, Palliative Care and the Stronach Regional Cancer Centre. The kindness, efficiency and expertise of Drs. Harold Yuen, and Shaqil Kassam are especially appreciated by the immediate family for helping them navigate through the rapid pace of James’ disease and prognosis.
In his last weeks, James also received superlative care in his home thanks to Lorraine Green and the staff of GreenLafleur HomeCare, who continue to provide special care for his wife during this difficult time. Words cannot truly express the gratitude that both James Jr. and Christa have for the care and support offered to their dad and stepmother by Earl and Marilyn Graves. Longtime friends and fellow model train enthusiasts, this couple spent countless hours offering companionship and invaluable practical support during what was a stressful, complex and ever-changing situation.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Roadhouse & Rose Funeral Home, with both interment at the Newmarket Cemetery and a private memorial to come this spring.
In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer donations be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, The Southlake Foundation or The Margaret Behan Hospice.
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