Barry and I were in school together from 3rd grade at Henry Haigh Elementary through college at Kalamazoo College. I last saw Barry at our 40th college reunion in 2010 and had such a nice conversation with him and his wife Liz, who was also a K-grad. We both were so proud of our daughters who had been with Teach for America. I was saddened to hear of his sudden passing a few years later. RIP, Barry.
Barry and I were friends from Bryant through DHS. After my move to Washington, I went back to Dearborn to visit, and he came here to visit as well. We exchanged snail mail letters a couple of times a year, but after college, we lost track of each other. I'd hope to connect with him in retirement, but sadly, it was too late. He was a good, sincere friend and was a listening ear when I needed one.
Both of us had paper routes, and we'd spend a healthy portion of our earnings at the L & K Delicatessan on Telegraph, a block down from the paper station-essentials like ice cream sandwiches and Hershey bars.. Most paper carriers went there, and we should have had an investment in the place for all of the money we spent. Sunday mornings were work for paper carriers as the papers were thick from all the ads. In order to fortify ourselves for the Sunday morning job ahead, we went next door to the restaurant and ordered fries for ourselves (6:30 a.m.). People looked at us like were nuts. Perhaps, we were a little bit.
We had a real learning curve of an experience working at Howard Johnson's on Telegraph. Both of us had the "opportunity" of working 15 hour days, as well as working 15 days consecutively. It was....let me leave it at that. It was. Barry managed to get me into football, helped me with Mr. Valentine's speech class, and helped me navigate classes that he'd had previously. He was a tenacious student, and he wouldn't give up until he'd mastered the concept. For me, as a marginal student, that was a real asset.
Friday nights, during our junior and senior years, we'd play cards in someone's basement after basketball games. With Randy Tufts, Bob Baker, Rick Caille, Gary Vartanian, Paul Kilgore, and the Leahy brothers as the usual suspects, we'd laugh the evening away over playing hearts, pig, bridge and who knows what else. Those were good days, and ones that I remember with great fondness.
Paper route on Telegraph? News or FP? News, right? Oh, geez, first Mrs. Edwards and Darwin Fisher and now Dale Yoakum!!!?!!! Gruff old bear of a man, we were all scared of him, sort of, anway. Do you remember the late teen, early 20 something he had working for him, what was his name? Quiet guy, Fonzie kind of slicked down hairdo.......
The delicatessen - was the owner's name Barnie or Bernie, a Greek or something like that? Dingy little place, maybe 5 or 6 booths, grill behind the counter. Made good fries, we used to drive him crazy, got thrown out of there with regularity. Right next to the music store............ I know Bob Sharpe and Bob Coulomb had routes there, too.
Clearest memory I have was November 22nd, the JFK day. I arrived at the station to pick up my papers and DY was sitting at his desk, head down, crying like a baby. Was a real freak-out.......... I delivered my route and went back to the station and picked up a bundle of the later edition - 5 star I think they called it. Went down to the corner of Telegraph and Cherry Hill (I think that was the cross street, the one by Bryant Jr. High). The weather had turned nasty, rainy and cold. Only took half an hour or so to sell that bundle of papers to cars stopped at the light. Never forget that day.
The Detroit News was the paper, and I didn't realize Dale Yoakam had died recently. I knew about Mr. Fisher, but not DY. Dale Yoakam seemed old then, and it would suprise me that he has lived this long. The guy's name that worked for him was Terry (Johnson?), as well as another taller dark haired guy. Terry quit for a few days, and the whole operation went downhill badly. He and DY may have had a falling out. In any event, Terry came back, and all of us applauded him. We realized how important he was to the successful operation of that station.
If memory serves me correctly, DY tried to start an outboard motor repair shop in the very front of the building with his son running it (Dale, Jr.?) who was inept. The repair shop didn't last very long as the son wasn't the sharpest pencil in the box. He couldn't run the paper station, so this seemed an alternative to keep him occupied and productive.
Nov. 22nd, is indelibly etched in my memory, and I remember having to deliver papers that evening. I wasn't as resourceful as you-selling them on the street corner, but that was smart on your part. I do remember the 4 star edition was completely different from the 5 star edition. The headline and the front page was redone with different pictures and news stories.
I still have cut out stories from both the News and Free Press from the 22nd thru the 30th or so. Stack of newspaper clippings about 8" high. Seminal day, like 9/11 or Pearl Harbor day must been to our folks. MLK day was big, too. I was in Boot Camp when that happened..........
I knew Barry all the way from Haigh El and he was really a nice guy. He was kind and funny and I always enjoyed being around him. It really saddens me to learn of his passing.
I am also very sorry to hear about Barry and all our other classmates that have passed away. Hey Bill Taylor, that grill down the street from the station was called the "Mayflower". Hope all is well !
Barry and I were raised in the same church. After church several of us would run around playing while the adults were in the basement drinking coffee. We had a lot of fun then. Sorry to hear he is gone.
Lauren Orr (Hines)
Barry and I were in school together from 3rd grade at Henry Haigh Elementary through college at Kalamazoo College. I last saw Barry at our 40th college reunion in 2010 and had such a nice conversation with him and his wife Liz, who was also a K-grad. We both were so proud of our daughters who had been with Teach for America. I was saddened to hear of his sudden passing a few years later. RIP, Barry.
Jim Morrell
Barry and I were friends from Bryant through DHS. After my move to Washington, I went back to Dearborn to visit, and he came here to visit as well. We exchanged snail mail letters a couple of times a year, but after college, we lost track of each other. I'd hope to connect with him in retirement, but sadly, it was too late. He was a good, sincere friend and was a listening ear when I needed one.
Both of us had paper routes, and we'd spend a healthy portion of our earnings at the L & K Delicatessan on Telegraph, a block down from the paper station-essentials like ice cream sandwiches and Hershey bars.. Most paper carriers went there, and we should have had an investment in the place for all of the money we spent. Sunday mornings were work for paper carriers as the papers were thick from all the ads. In order to fortify ourselves for the Sunday morning job ahead, we went next door to the restaurant and ordered fries for ourselves (6:30 a.m.). People looked at us like were nuts. Perhaps, we were a little bit.
We had a real learning curve of an experience working at Howard Johnson's on Telegraph. Both of us had the "opportunity" of working 15 hour days, as well as working 15 days consecutively. It was....let me leave it at that. It was. Barry managed to get me into football, helped me with Mr. Valentine's speech class, and helped me navigate classes that he'd had previously. He was a tenacious student, and he wouldn't give up until he'd mastered the concept. For me, as a marginal student, that was a real asset.
Friday nights, during our junior and senior years, we'd play cards in someone's basement after basketball games. With Randy Tufts, Bob Baker, Rick Caille, Gary Vartanian, Paul Kilgore, and the Leahy brothers as the usual suspects, we'd laugh the evening away over playing hearts, pig, bridge and who knows what else. Those were good days, and ones that I remember with great fondness.
Barry, you are missed. RIP.
William Taylor
Paper route on Telegraph? News or FP? News, right? Oh, geez, first Mrs. Edwards and Darwin Fisher and now Dale Yoakum!!!?!!! Gruff old bear of a man, we were all scared of him, sort of, anway. Do you remember the late teen, early 20 something he had working for him, what was his name? Quiet guy, Fonzie kind of slicked down hairdo.......
The delicatessen - was the owner's name Barnie or Bernie, a Greek or something like that? Dingy little place, maybe 5 or 6 booths, grill behind the counter. Made good fries, we used to drive him crazy, got thrown out of there with regularity.
Right next to the music store............ I know Bob Sharpe and Bob Coulomb had routes there, too.
Clearest memory I have was November 22nd, the JFK day. I arrived at the station to pick up my papers and DY was sitting at his desk, head down, crying like a baby. Was a real freak-out.......... I delivered my route and went back to the station and picked up a bundle of the later edition - 5 star I think they called it. Went down to the corner of Telegraph and Cherry Hill (I think that was the cross street, the one by Bryant Jr. High). The weather had turned nasty, rainy and cold. Only took half an hour or so to sell that bundle of papers to cars stopped at the light. Never forget that day.
Jim Morrell
Bill,
The Detroit News was the paper, and I didn't realize Dale Yoakam had died recently. I knew about Mr. Fisher, but not DY. Dale Yoakam seemed old then, and it would suprise me that he has lived this long. The guy's name that worked for him was Terry (Johnson?), as well as another taller dark haired guy. Terry quit for a few days, and the whole operation went downhill badly. He and DY may have had a falling out. In any event, Terry came back, and all of us applauded him. We realized how important he was to the successful operation of that station.
If memory serves me correctly, DY tried to start an outboard motor repair shop in the very front of the building with his son running it (Dale, Jr.?) who was inept. The repair shop didn't last very long as the son wasn't the sharpest pencil in the box. He couldn't run the paper station, so this seemed an alternative to keep him occupied and productive.
Nov. 22nd, is indelibly etched in my memory, and I remember having to deliver papers that evening. I wasn't as resourceful as you-selling them on the street corner, but that was smart on your part. I do remember the 4 star edition was completely different from the 5 star edition. The headline and the front page was redone with different pictures and news stories.
William Taylor
I still have cut out stories from both the News and Free Press from the 22nd thru the 30th or so. Stack of newspaper clippings about 8" high. Seminal day, like 9/11 or Pearl Harbor day must been to our folks. MLK day was big, too. I was in Boot Camp when that happened..........
Mary Beth Levy (Walsh)
I knew Barry all the way from Haigh El and he was really a nice guy. He was kind and funny and I always enjoyed being around him. It really saddens me to learn of his passing.
Rudy Laslo
I am also very sorry to hear about Barry and all our other classmates that have passed away. Hey Bill Taylor, that grill down the street from the station was called the "Mayflower". Hope all is well !
Bob Sharpe
Barry and I were raised in the same church. After church several of us would run around playing while the adults were in the basement drinking coffee. We had a lot of fun then. Sorry to hear he is gone.