William M. Barber

March 19, 1954 - August 27, 2020 (66 years old)

It is said we are not measured by how much we love, but instead by how much we are loved. Bill Barber’s legacy of life-long friendships combined with new friends is powerful testimony to that He was loved by so many people - here in New Mexico plus California, Minnesota and elsewhere in the Midwest, even in China where he visited Doug Schaefer.

Bill was a native New Mexican, but please forgive him the years he lived in Austin, Texas! He grew up in Albuquerque with his older brother Tony, always trying to keep up with him and their older cousins. He graduated from New Mexico State University in 1980 with a degree in biology and computer science and where he met his dear friends Doug Schaefer. Tina Schwartz and Fran Bedingfeld. His interests and skills developed into so much more - spiders and insects, trying new recipes as inspired by his mom Dorothy, beer, desert gardening, bicycling and hiking when his body would allow, woodworking which he learned from his dad Jack, beer, software development even working on a coding project into his retirement with input from Mark Murdock, cats especially his beloved Sunya and Moksha, volunteering at Felines & Friends New Mexico, beer, adventures at Mark Waugh’s cabin in Colorado where “whatever happens there stays there,” science fiction, swimming laps daily at the Los Alamos Aquatic Center where he become friends with Julian Sibony, collecting every Far Side cartoon published, Monty Python and Dr. Who, BBC comedies and PBS mysteries, beer, Japanese art, his precious night blooming cereus which bloomed once a year and for which he’d host an all-night party, and anything that preserves the environment and protects the world’s wildlife.

Tony became mentally ill during his early 20s and lived in group homes or other care facilities the rest of his life. After their parents passed, Bill took over the role of watching over his care and finances for the rest of Tony’s life. By the age of 50, Bill had already handled the estates of three people.

His Santa Fe posse is huge and diverse! An original investor of Second Street Brewery in 1996, Bill was a regular, wearing one of his Hawaiian

shirt, welcoming new folks and chatting with regulars such as our good friends Richard Ransley and Eleanor Bernau. Once in a while server Ernie Bob would spontaneously sing to Bill as he ate his dinner!

Bill volunteered at Kitchen Angels where he met Haila Harvey, and thus began their long friendship. During recent weeks, they survived quarantine by meeting at her home every Thursday for dinner and a Zoom Happy Hour with other friends. When Bill failed to show up on that Thursday, August 27th, it was Haila who went searching for him.

Bill appreciated most kinds of music and built an impressive collection of cds. He had an affinity, however, for choral music and had a gorgeous voice. When he and I lived in Austin, Texas, he joined a chorus which performed Mozart’s “Requiem.” It was hard work on top of a full time job at IBM, but was one of his proudest achievements! He could also play the piano and the tambura and harmonium, East Indian instruments often used during group meditations. Bill and I met at the Siddha Yoga Meditation Center in Austin, Texas, and when he taught me how to play the tambura.

Bill’s unexpected passing in his home was from a heart attack probably from a history of high blood pressure which he shared with other family. He was in chronic pain his entire adult life centered in his back, and even though lt got worse as he aged, he did not complain or dwell on it. Instead he turned his attention and interests to others.. He was an active listener, meeting people where they were, getting to know them as they are. As social as that seems, he learned to accommodate his pain in situations by bringing his own chair pillows or walking around a room because he could not sit for more than a few minutes. Privately, he was constantly searching for pain relief, improved strength. Throughout his entire life he sought health and peace through meditation, a simple fitness regimen, healthy eating, and utilized anything from Eastern or Western medicine. Sadly, many friends believe it was Western medicine that eventually failed him.

It’s been my pleasure to speak with many of Bill’s friends, his cousins, and his wondrous, watchful neighbors. Everyone had their own story about Bill, but the one word used the most to describe him was “Gentleman.” Yes, Bill Barber was a gentle man. Vaya con Dios, Caballero.

 Please VOTE on November 3rd, and, please also consider honoring some of Bill’s values by supporting the following nonprofits in his name..

Bill cared deeply about Planned Parenthood’s mission. Every year, the local Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains serves 100,000 women and men in Colorado, New Mexico, Southern Nevada and Wyoming a full range of quality reproductive and sexual health care. To support their work, click on www.wearepp.org/PPRM

Felines & Friends of New Mexico rescues and rehomes pets needing a second chance and works towards zero pet overpopulation with low-cost spay/neutering. Bill loved volunteering at their Santa Fe shelter. Please support their current project to move to a better building for the shelter: https://www.fandfnm.org/general-support.html

Bill’s #1 passion was protecting the world’s environment by fighting the cause and effects of the climate crisis. 350.org works towards ending the age of fossil fuels for a safer climate and a future of renewable energy. To join Bill’s posse on this project, donate here: 350.org

~Katherine J. Werner

Amazing Grace by Bagpipe Master - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpZiPZwwXhM

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