PIANY Mourns Death of Edward Barry

The Professional Insurance Agents of New York mourn the death of Edward J. Barry, CPCU, CIC, ARM, a past president of the organization, who passed away Feb. 18, 2004.

The organization’s announcement noted that “Barry was actively involved with PIANY for nearly 50 years, remaining an active past president until his death. PIANY honored him with its prestigious Distinguished Insurance Service award in 2002, in recognition of his many contributions to the industry and the association over a half-century of service.”

“Ed Barry was an industry and PIA leader for more than three decades.Throughout this time, even with the immeasurable changes in our industry and as his agency career wound down, Ed was a constant with us. He was knowledgeable, active, enormously helpful and a ‘genuine character’ in our industry,” stated PIANY Executive Director Kenneth Bessette. “We’ll all miss him a great deal.”

In addition to serving as association president, Barry chaired virtually
every PIANY committee, and was recognized as Committee Chairman of the Year in 1972 for his work with the education committee. He was a charter member and past president of the IMA Education & Research Foundation, and was a member of the New York Auto Insurance Plan Governing Committee for more than 15 years.

Barry was equally involved in his community, serving as past president of the Bedford Fire Department and Benevolent Association. He was a commissioner of the Bedford Fire District and served as Chairman of the Commission until Dec. 31, 2003.

Latest Comments

• June 8, 2004 at 8:57 am

  Jo Anne Stewart says:

  Stumbled upon this article about my dad. It is so great to realize that this "genuine character" was loved and appreciated by people in the industry to which he gave his grea... read more