Barry Gerdes, may he rest in peace

[tlgerdes]

It is with great sadness that I inform you all, that Barry passed away last night. He was a great father, and good friend to many here.

Trevor

[mental4astro]

I am stunned and so very sad to read this, Trevor.

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time.

Alex.

[sheeny]

I am sorry to hear that. My condolences to friends and family.

Al.

[bojan]

So sorry..
RIP.

[DavidTrap]

Sleep well Barry.

DT

[Kunama]

My condolences to you and your family Trevor, Barry will be missed here on IIS and no doubt by the many people who knew him.

His advice to me was always appreciated.

Matt

[deanm]

Barry machined me a set of replacement knurled knobs for my neq6.

I'll remember him every time I set up.

Dean.

[wayne anderson]

Sorry to hear of your family's loss, my thoughts and prayers are with you and family.

[PeterM]

This is so very, very sad to hear.
A huge loss to our community, best wishes to your family Trevor.
Rest well Barry.
Peter

[Ross G]

Hello Trevor,

What sad news!

My deepest sympathy to you and your family.

Barry's wit and humour, his knowledge and experience, his kindness and warmth will be missed by me and many others.

Our club meetings, Wiruna and the Australian astronomy community will be poorer places without him.

Rest in Peace Barry.

Ross.

[PCH]

Trevor,

I'm so sorry to hear of Barry's passing, - I hadn't realised he was even poorly as he always seem so full of beans when he posts on here.

I didn't know him personally, but I always read his posts on here, and felt I knew a little about him.

My sincere condolences to you and all the family, - He's going to be greatly missed.

RIP Barry :)

[gary]

Condolences from Mai and I to your family Trevor.

When we saw him at SPSP in 2013, he told me that it would probably be
his last.

We were unable to make it to SPSP this year but I remember giving a sigh
of relief that Barry had made it through those twelve months.

So by his own reckoning, he exceeded his own remaining time, but given
his drive, tenacity and strength of character, that probably would not come
as a surprise to anyone privileged enough to have met him.

You have reason to be proud of him.

All the best.

Gary Kopff
Mt Kuring-Gai NSW

[Octane]

Sorry for your loss, Trevor.

H

[Robert9]

Sincere condolences.
Robert

[RickS]

My condolences also, Trevor.

Cheers,
Rick.

[h0ughy]

Sad news indeed, my condolences to you and your family Trevor. Barry will be missed here on IIS and ASNSW and no doubt by the many people who knew him and had his input into their lives. For me Barry came to the rescue back in 1999 when i was poking around trying to find a way to build an observatory to house a 12" Meade that i had. He sent me a floppy disk and a typed letter explaining how it all worked as well as a few phone calls. He was certainly a huge influence for me.

[ZeroID]

So sorry to hear this, my condolences to you and all the family.
R.I.P Barry

[astroron]

Sorry to hear that Trevor.
I enjoyed his presence here on iceinspace
May he rest in peace.
Regards
Ron

[strongmanmike]

The sadest day in my astronomical life

Barry was a man who gave selflessly to all in the astronomcal community.

Barry, like he did for many people, saved my Meade 12" LX200GPS from me hitting it with a sledge hammer, tuning it to perfection.

He has been a great friend ever since and I will always remember him, hugging him at SPSP each year was a highlight.

Trevor, your loss must be almost unbareable at the moment and I am thinking of you and your family.

Mike
holding back the tears

[RB]

My deepest condolences to you and your family Trevor.

Andrew

[mithrandir]

My condolences too Trevor.

We knew the day was coming but it is always a shock when it does.

[Ric]

My condolences Trevor and to your family as well.

Rest in Peace Barry, your back in the stars.

[kinetic]

So sorry Trevor to hear of your loss.
I always enjoyed reading Barry's stories on IIS over the years,
always told in Barry's unique style and dry sense of humour.
He lived a full and interesting life by the sound of it.

RIP Barry.

Steve

[wavelandscott]

So sorry to hear of this loss. My thoughts and prayers go out to your entire family.

[Merlin66]

Sadly missed by all.
A friend to many amateurs.
Rest easy...our thoughts are with the family.

[GraemeT]

My sincere condolences, RIP Barry!

[tlgerdes]

Thanks to all for you kind words.

Also "If" any of have any photos of Barry in your archives could please forward me a copy of them for his memorial service.

For those in Sydney, Barry will be laid to rest at Rookwood Cemetery on Monday the 13th of October at 12:15pm.

We will have a short service by his grave site on the St Peter Chanel lawn, followed by a memorial event at 1pm in the Mary Mother of Mercy memorial room close by.

Please meet in the car park of the Catholic office at the cemetery at 12pm

Driving directions
Therry St, Rookwood, New South Wales
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.8789946,151.060235,152m/data=!3m1!1e3 (https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.8789946,151.060235,152m/data=!3m1!1e3)

Please pass these details on to friends of Barry as I do not have everyone’s direct contact details.

If you plan to attend, could you please RSVP by 9am (preferably via email) on Friday morning.

Yours sincerely

Trevor Gerdes
trevor@sarcasmogerdes.com (trevor@sarcasmogerdes.com)
0404892657

[trent_julie]

This is so sad.
The first time I met Barry he found out that I was in the Navy (At the time). Immediately he leapt into a string of stories of days past. The man had so many experiences, hours worth! I will miss he's cameos at star parties and the like, after that first conversation he always greeted me with such warmth. I will miss the guy.

Trent

[LewisM]

Condolences Trevor - he was a very considerate and jovial character. He will be sorely missed.

[JB80]

Sorry to read this Trevor.

Our thoughts are with you and your family.

[DavidU]

Very sad news.

[GrampianStars]

RIP Barry
A wealth of mechanical knowledge about telescopes
forever lost now sprinkled amongst the stars

:sadeyes:

[RobF]

Only met Barry once, at SPSP 2010, but he made me feel so welcome at "the house" - helping out with power, etc. What a great character, and a great guy who obviously loved his Astro.

Rest in peace mate.

[jenchris]

I'm saddened by the news.
I had no idea he was poorly, so it's more of a shock to hear.
I shall miss his posts.

[gbeal]

Wow, what sad news to log onto this morning.
Sorry to hear of your loss.
Gary

[andyc]

Also sorry to hear this. May he rest in peace, I hope under starry skies.

[Larryp]

Sorry for your loss, Trevor

[kkara4]

Sorry to hear this Trevor, my condolences. I hold hope that the answer to this isnt what i think it is, but what was his username on here?

[tlgerdes]

Hi, his handle was barrykgerdes.

[xelasnave]

So sorry to hear this sad news Trevor.
Alex

[sjastro]

Condolences Trevor and family.

Steven

[OzStarGazer]

I am very sorry to hear about your loss. My sincere condolences to you and your family.

[CJ]

Condolences to you and yours. I've not been on the forum long but Barry's posts were always a worthwhile read.

[FlashDrive]

Sad to hear of Barry passing ... Rest in Peace.

Col.

[MortonH]

My condolences. I didn't know Barry but I've read many of his posts over the years. A sad loss.

[multiweb]

RIP Barry. Very sad news.

[graham.hobart]

So sorry to hear of this sad news. My thoughts are with you and yours Trevor.
Graham

[GrahamL]

condolences to you and the family Trevor .

[Tandum]

I'd like to add my condolences Trevor.

[jjjnettie]

My sincerest condolences to you, your family and to all who knew Barry. xo

[alan meehan]

My condolences to you and your family Trevor ,may Barry rest in peace

Alan

[barx1963]

I never had the pleasure of meeting Barry, but had read many of his posts here on IIS and he always came across as a wise and giving person with much good advice.

Condolences to you and all of Barry's family Trevor

Malcolm

[miki63au]

RIP Barry .... you are in a perpetual beautiful sky full of stars.

I take a bow sir.

Mick

[Jen]

Such sad news :( rest in peace Baz xo

[erick]

My deepest sympathy. That is sad news.

[Suzy]

I'm going to miss him around here. :(
My deepest condolences Trevor, to you and your family.