James J. Barry, Attorney And Former Georgetown Basketball Star Dies At 71

Courtesy of O’Brien Funeral Home

James J. Barry, 71 of Brielle and Palm Beach, Florida, died peacefully at home on Sunday, March 29, 2015.

Born in Hoboken on the Fourth of July, 1943, Jim was raised in Elizabeth and Spring Lake by Mary J. Kenah and Richard S. Barry.

Big Jim Barry, a gentle giant of a man, was a first team All State and three time first team All- Hudson County selection at St. Peter’s Prep, Jersey City, and an All American basketball player at Georgetown University. He was, by all accounts, the “Best of the Classic Era players” at Georgetown where he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1976. To this day, Jim holds the scoring record set in 1962 at Georgetown for most points in a game (46). In 2007, Georgetown celebrated the 100th anniversary of the basketball program and Jim was named number 8 of the top 100 all-time players, only topped by the likes of Patrick Ewing and Alonzo Mourning. That same year he was the first basketball player to be inducted in St. Peter’s Prep Hall of Fame.

After a serious knee injury ended his hopes of a professional basketball career, Jim turned to a court of law, graduating from Seton Hall Law School and entering into private practice where he brought his competitive skills to the courtroom. A judge once said of Jim “he wouldn’t give away a snowball in Iceland”.

He was the Spring Lake Borough attorney and Municipal Court Judge in the 1990s. He was a former president of the Ocean County Bar Association, a Spring Lake Little League coach for many years. He even made an unsuccessful bid for mayor of Spring Lake.

Jim was a member of Manasquan River Golf Club, where he enjoyed playing many rounds of golf with the Seniors. He was a member of the “Post and Rail” group, an avid card player, and a huge sports enthusiast. He loved vacationing at his home in Palm Beach where he played golf, read, swam and relaxed.

He retired from his law practice in 2010. He will be missed for his Irish wit, his great intelligence, his integrity, but most of all for his gentle spirit and love of life. Perhaps his greatest accomplishment was as a father- dutifully sacrificing more lucrative pursuits to raise and coach his three sons, whom he loved greatly.

He is survived by those sons, Richard, Fair Haven, James, Spring Lake, and Christopher, Atlantic Highlands, and by the love of his life, Bonnie O’Malley Barry, who he married in 1998 and has nurtured him through his protracted illness. He is also survived by his brother, Steve, and his wife Susan, of Maitland, Florida, and Spring Lake, his threedaughters- in -law, Colleen, Kristin and Nicole Barry, nine grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, and countless lifelong friends.

Visitation will be held from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, April 6, 2015 at the O’Brien Funeral Home, 505 Burnt Tavern Road, Brick. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 7 at St. Catharine R.C. Church, Spring Lake.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in James’ memory to the St. Peters Preparatory School, 144 Grand Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302 or The Hoya Hoop Club, Georgetown University, Gift Processing, Office of Advancement Department 0734, 2115 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20073 For directions and condolences, please visit www.OBrienFuneralHome.com