James D. Barney
Longtime Mattituck resident James D. Barney died at his home on February 15, 2011, after an illness.
Born July 8, 1946, in Cambridge, Mass., James grew up in Warwick, RI, with his parents, Mary E. and Ralph E. Barney, and his three sisters. He graduated from Pilgrim High School in 1966, enlisted in the Army and was stationed in Germany where he served as a medic.
He lived in Mattituck for over forty years and was married to lifelong Mattituck resident Pamela Barney from 1972 until 2007. Together, they raised their only daughter, Amanda F. Barney, who survives him. Also surviving James are his son-in-law, Matthew S. Orr of Mattituck; grandchildren, Oliver, Jillian and Zoë Orr; his sisters Leslie King of Florida and Jane Lutrario of Rhode Island. James was predeceased by his parents, Ralph and Mary Barney of Rhode Island, and his sister Marilyn Barney of New York City.
Jim was a past president of Mattituck Community Fund, a member of Southold American Legion and a past president of The North Fork Community Theater where he was very active in the late1980s into the 1990s.
At the NFCT, he directed “The King and I” and “A Streetcar Named Desire,” among others. He was also a founding member of The Orient Point Players, a theatrical group that produced plays in the 1990s by local playwrights.
More recently, James’s community service involved St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Greenport where he was a trustee. As a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, he used his forty years’ experience as a licensed master plumber to help build affordable houses for working families.
His life centered on his family and he cherished attending his grandchildren’s birthday parties, concerts, horseback riding lessons and soccer games.
A memorial service was held at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Main Road, Greenport, N.Y., on February 19, 2011. Visitation and cremation were in the care of DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home, Mattituck.
Memorial donations may be made to Habitat for Humanity of Suffolk, 643 Middle Country Rd., Middle Island, NY 11953; The North Fork Community Theatre, P.O. Box 86, Mattituck, NY, 11952; or East End Hospice, P.O. Box 1048, Westhampton Beach, NY 11978.
This is a paid notice.
