Thanks to Dick and Jim for all the work they did finding out about Barry. I had discovered the information surrounding his second wife, but wasn't sure it was the same Barry Lipsker. Barry and his first wife were in Billings in 1977 or 1978 and I met them at Ray Hart's house. Since the description of his wife in the various articles didn't match, I had my doubts. I recall that Barry's first wife, who was German I believe, was quite adamant that I must be in the delivery room for the birth of our first child. Not sure if her commands were instrumental in getting me there, but there I was.
In any case, Barry and I became pretty good friends in the year before his family moved to California. I even took care of their dog for a week or so, before putting her on a plane to join the Lipskers. I recall spending time swimming and playing golf at the Yellowstone Club and just generally hanging out as we all did back then. He was a really good guy, funny and smart. It was during that time that I learned that his family owned the Babcock Building - his grandmother lived in an apartment on the second floor. It's sad that he won't be able to join us at the reunion to dredge up yet more old memories.
I read a book several years ago, and, quite surprisingly, came across a story involving Barry. I didn't believe it could be the same Barry Lipsker from Billings, but it did give some of his Billings history. I wish I could remember the name of the book, but it escapes me for now. It was about his wife and her family relationships, and it painted a very unflattering picture of Barry. I'll try to come up with the title.
The book is "Sins of the Father" by Eileen Franklin and William Wright.
Barry died of a heart attack. His parents, Aaron and Lillian lived across the street from Mollie and Laura on Raymond Place. He is survived by a brother Scott - now living in Lacey, WA - Scott and I had lunch some years back - and Hylan (brother) and a sister (Robin, I recall). Barry played rock'n'roll in the Far East with a band and loved "Runaway" by Del Shannon, among other great tunes. Ray Hart
Barry and I were good friends in our pre- and early teens. He and I won the polka contest at his bar mitzvah. I have great memories of their boxer puppies - don't know if they raised them or had just acquired them, but somewhere there's a wonderful picture of Lillian with two pups in her coat pockets. Sorry to hear that his life got so messy, that he died so young.
Actually, Julie Hehn, according to the CDC we should expect about 20% of the males and 12% of the females from our class to be deceased. Right now we are betting the national average, but I expect that between now and the reunion, we'll find that some of the "missing" are actually deceased. Regardless, too soon and so sad.
Last night I watched the made-for-TV movie, Fatal Memories (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104236/), which depicts the recalled memory case involving Barry's second wife, Eileen Franklin-Lipsker. It portrays Barry as a loving father and supportive husband. It is actually a pretty good film.
Our sophomore year, when Barry Lipsker still lived in Billings and went to Senior High, John Crawford and I were basket boys for Mr. Lazetich's PE class just before lunch. We handed out baskets of gym clothes at the start of class and towels at the end, and mostly sat around in the locker room BSing the rest of the time.
Barry was in that class. One day he left class early (because he had a doctor's appointment or some such), came into the locker room, and hopped into the shower. While he was in the shower, Phil (Phyllis, for those of you who may not remember) Miller, the girl's PE teacher, sauntered into the locker room to use the phone in Laz's office - a small, windowless cubicle in the corner.
When Barry came out of the shower - buck naked, of course - he asked for a towel, and Crawford and I horsed around, playing keep away for a while, before we finally threw the towel into the office. Barry ran in to get it . . .
He came out with perhaps the reddest face I've ever seen.
Phil just smiled and winked at us when she left ten minutes later.
Terry Mattison
Thanks to Dick and Jim for all the work they did finding out about Barry. I had discovered the information surrounding his second wife, but wasn't sure it was the same Barry Lipsker. Barry and his first wife were in Billings in 1977 or 1978 and I met them at Ray Hart's house. Since the description of his wife in the various articles didn't match, I had my doubts. I recall that Barry's first wife, who was German I believe, was quite adamant that I must be in the delivery room for the birth of our first child. Not sure if her commands were instrumental in getting me there, but there I was.
In any case, Barry and I became pretty good friends in the year before his family moved to California. I even took care of their dog for a week or so, before putting her on a plane to join the Lipskers. I recall spending time swimming and playing golf at the Yellowstone Club and just generally hanging out as we all did back then. He was a really good guy, funny and smart. It was during that time that I learned that his family owned the Babcock Building - his grandmother lived in an apartment on the second floor. It's sad that he won't be able to join us at the reunion to dredge up yet more old memories.
Sharon (Sherry) Ehli (Thompson)
I read a book several years ago, and, quite surprisingly, came across a story involving Barry. I didn't believe it could be the same Barry Lipsker from Billings, but it did give some of his Billings history. I wish I could remember the name of the book, but it escapes me for now. It was about his wife and her family relationships, and it painted a very unflattering picture of Barry. I'll try to come up with the title.
The book is "Sins of the Father" by Eileen Franklin and William Wright.
Ray Hart
Barry died of a heart attack. His parents, Aaron and Lillian lived across the street from Mollie and Laura on Raymond Place. He is survived by a brother Scott - now living in Lacey, WA - Scott and I had lunch some years back - and Hylan (brother) and a sister (Robin, I recall). Barry played rock'n'roll in the Far East with a band and loved "Runaway" by Del Shannon, among other great tunes. Ray Hart
Laura Johnson (Andrews)
Barry and I were good friends in our pre- and early teens. He and I won the polka contest at his bar mitzvah. I have great memories of their boxer puppies - don't know if they raised them or had just acquired them, but somewhere there's a wonderful picture of Lillian with two pups in her coat pockets. Sorry to hear that his life got so messy, that he died so young.
Lana Richards (Batts)
Actually, Julie Hehn, according to the CDC we should expect about 20% of the males and 12% of the females from our class to be deceased. Right now we are betting the national average, but I expect that between now and the reunion, we'll find that some of the "missing" are actually deceased. Regardless, too soon and so sad.
Richard Clark
Last night I watched the made-for-TV movie, Fatal Memories (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104236/), which depicts the recalled memory case involving Barry's second wife, Eileen Franklin-Lipsker. It portrays Barry as a loving father and supportive husband. It is actually a pretty good film.
David Butler
Barry and Phil - A Memory
Our sophomore year, when Barry Lipsker still lived in Billings and went to Senior High, John Crawford and I were basket boys for Mr. Lazetich's PE class just before lunch. We handed out baskets of gym clothes at the start of class and towels at the end, and mostly sat around in the locker room BSing the rest of the time.
Barry was in that class. One day he left class early (because he had a doctor's appointment or some such), came into the locker room, and hopped into the shower. While he was in the shower, Phil (Phyllis, for those of you who may not remember) Miller, the girl's PE teacher, sauntered into the locker room to use the phone in Laz's office - a small, windowless cubicle in the corner.
When Barry came out of the shower - buck naked, of course - he asked for a towel, and Crawford and I horsed around, playing keep away for a while, before we finally threw the towel into the office. Barry ran in to get it . . .
He came out with perhaps the reddest face I've ever seen.
Phil just smiled and winked at us when she left ten minutes later.
Kim Nybo (Gambish)
EEEEK!
Katherine Gibb (Walden)
Barry was my first date. We saw "The Shaggy Dog."
Linda Albright (Burnett)
Barry was my first love and will always have a very special place in my heart! Thanks for sharing the shower story, David...hilarious!