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Peacefully, with his sweetheart by his side, at the age of 82, after complications from heart surgery.
Barry Philip Tremblay was born in McGregor, Ontario and grew up in Windsor. He was raised by a hard-working single father with his beloved siblings, Bonnie and the late Bill.
In school, he excelled at sports, playing basketball and football for Corpus Christi, and later the University of Windsor. Over the years he also developed a love for running, golf, pickleball, and cornhole.
After starting as an engineer in Sarnia’s “Chemical Valley” at Shell, Barry then chose a more passionate career of teaching, which led to a position of vice principal at St. Patrick’s High School. While there, he helped coach many of the school’s sports teams, especially track and field and cross country, with great success. Eventually, he became principal of Our Lady of Mercy School, and later, St. Joseph’s. The influence of his guidance and compassion has had lasting impressions on the many students he encountered in his career.
Barry discovered a love of sailing in the late 70’s and spent many years cruising the Great Lakes with his trusted friend Bob McKinley and both their families. Many adventurous family trips in the North Channel with Barry at the helm made the family history books, often with hair-raising situations we enjoyed in the retelling for years afterwards!
A man guided by his faith, Barry began his religious education as an altar server in Windsor and as an adult became an active member of St. Peter’s Church and Our Lady of Mercy Church in Sarnia participating in services.
Together with his former wife Dorothy, Barry was a loving and fun parent to his two children, Paul and Karen (Ron), who adored him. He was always ready for a game or a sport and had lots of wisdom and life experience to share when guidance was needed. He was also a steadfast father figure to his nephews David and Michael. His niece Maria and many nephews loved him and will miss him also.
His grandchildren Sam and Katie will forever love their sweet “Bumpa” and will miss his jokes, shared love of cookies, and kind help.
He will be deeply missed by his partner, Donna, his “Donut”, with whom he enjoyed a few short but wonderful years in the comfort of each other’s unconditional love, along with “Winnie the Weenie”, their puppy. Donna has often said that Barry was the best thing that has ever happened to her.
Barry had an undeniable zest for life and was the life of the party everywhere he went. He made friends easily with his gentle, affable demeanour and his willingness to jump into any project. Barry never missed a chance to help people, whether it was giving advice, helping friends build or renovate, or even restoring communities in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
His whole life, Barry never raised his voice in anger. His absence in all our lives will be felt forever.
Cremation has taken place. A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, November 21st, 2025 at 10:00 AM at Our Lady of Mercy Church in Sarnia. A Celebration of Life luncheon will follow at 12:00 PM at Stokes Inland, 1202 Lambton Mall Road.
Donations can be made to The Heart and Stroke Foundation or any charity that helps those in need.
