Tragic Loss!! Barry Broskowitz

What a shock. I never met Barry but he and I exchanged emails last year. I introduced myself to him as being new to DCS and a friend of Marty Fitzhenry's, and he wrote right back saying, "Any friend of Marty's is a friend of mine." It isn't often that people say things like that  anymore, so it really made an impact on me as to the kind of guy he was, even though we never met. This is a huge loss for many people, most importantly his family. To Barry's family, my thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. 

John

I read about Barry's passing late last night on Facebook. It is a terrible shock. My prayers go out to his family and his friends in the O Gauge community.

Feeling very sad right now, more so after reading all of the posts in this thread.  I feel like a giant hole has opened up, one that no one can come close to filling.  There was only one Barry!  He and I joked many times about my "stupid questions" - he could say that to  me cause we joked about them many times.  Always in fun though, never mean.

Wish I had a better grasp of vocabulary to express how sad I am, and a better way to express my sorrow to his family.

- walt

So sorry to hear this .my prayers go out to the family.

rich b

Barry helped me on a number of issues over the years without hesitation.  As others have said, a great loss to our fraternity of hobbyists.  My condolences and prayers to his family.

So sorry for your loss, our prayers to family and friends

Mooner posted:

Everything that you need to know about DCS is all in MTH’s “The DCS Companion 3rd Edition!"

Words you came to expect when someone new to the hobby or DCS posted on the forum. This was Barry's advice after freely volunteering a solution to one's problems. I don't know if these exact words will continue to live on, but I suspect the knowledgable response so many veterans of DCS passed along as a tip will be with us for a long time...."just buy Barry's book".

Very good advice to any/all DCS users or potential DCS users because I can honestly say that this book is Barry's "bible" for the DCS operator. He will long be remembered for this important contribution to our hobby. "Just buy Barry's book" remains very good advice!

Barry's picture has been on my layout for years. He is the second person on the left behind the blue/white hat. He's been a great friend and has helped me a lot with DCS. I am going to miss him here on the forum and at York.

Rest in peace Barry.

Scott Smith

So sorry to hear this new, sincerest thoughts and prayers for his family and friends.

I was able to meet him and converse over the phone with him on several occasions and it was always informative and helpful. 

A new star burns in the heavens today, thank you Barry, for all your help.

Cheryl

Oh my!  This is very sad news.  Barry's loss will be felt by so many of us here.  My thoughts and condolences to his family.

Sincere condolences to the family.

Certainly, a loss to the hobby.  

We all pass this way only once and Barry made a difference.   For one, this hobby will celebrate his countless contributions to others on this forum.  And then there are the books which will continue his legacy for years to come.  God bless Harry and his family. 

I am sorry to hear this, he will be missed by a lot of people.

Wow...what a shocker. I just read this on the OGR FB group. So Sad! Condolences to his wife, family and friends, from my wife and me.

shorling posted:

  God bless Harry and his family. 

Barry occasionally made comments on the misspellings of name from time to time. "Berry" was the most frequent and I may have been guilty of that one a time or two! Don't know if he ever saw "Harry" used... I'm sure he is chuckling about it now in heaven!

Saddened like the rest of the OGR and extended community on the passing of a great ambassador to the Hobby. GodSpeed to you Barry - thank you for all you did to help make the hobby a better place.

Paul

Very saddened to read this.  My condolences to his family.

Gary

I am Very Saddened to hear about Barry.  He always was always friendly and warm when we met up at York to chat.  He will be surely missed by all.  My deepest condolences to his family.  Rest in peace Barry...

I am sorry to hear the news.   Barry did a lot to help out for the DCS users in this hobby.   I will keep his family in my thoughts and prayers.  

Very sad news.  Truly a good friend of the hobby and to those who knew him personally.   God bless.

Very, very sad news. Barry always had the answer to any DCS problem, he will be missed.

Sad, Sad, Sad.  RIP Barry.  I’m hoping you can feel the love this community has for you where ever you are right now.   Probably wiring a layout for The Big Guy in Heaven.   

RIP Barry- a truly productive forum member and great asset for MTH when they first introduced DCS as well as much later with his books. 

I have only met Barry a few times at York, but he was always very nice to speak with and, of course, incredibly knowledgeable. Like many here, I keep his DCS book close at hand. He will truly be missed. My condolences to his family.

-Tom

I had the good fortune of visiting Barry ,s layout in the early days of  DCS.   He also  took me on a tour of his friends ("Arnie)" beautiful post war  layout and also over to Forrest Jerome's  layout along with a number of Hobby shops.    What a day ,..... Thanks Barry.

This is really tragic news. Saw RJR's post last night on my phone, but had no words. I still don't know what to say other than my condolences to his family and friends and he will be greatly missed by all here. Very shocking news.

 Barry was visiting family years ago in MA. Posted on the forum of any train related activities. This was in the early days of DCS and he was becoming well known on the topic. We managed to hook up starting with breakfast with a few other forum members. Layout visits and later in the day. A visit to NE Trains. A truly memorable day. I still have his business card from that day on my wall. A truly great loss to the hobby.

What a terrible shock.  I always enjoyed hearing Barry solve problems at Marty Fitzhenry's.  The memory of the righteous is a blessing for us all.

Lew Schneider

l

Barry was a tremendous help, both in person and thru his books. He will be missed. Condolences to his family. He was a wonderful person.

We just got home after my mother's funeral today, only to read this? I am sorry to hear this, what a day. My wife and i will pray for Barry's family, so sad.

A big loss to our hobby.

I've been sad all day...condolences and a DCS salute from here.

My condolences to his wife and family.

JAMES9641, sorry for your loss too.  May your MOM Rest in Peace and Thrive in Joy of the Light.

My deepest sympathies to his family.

Wow, I am in shock! Having met Barry several times at York, he also invited me to visit his layout in Florida. What a great afternoon, I learned so much from the guru. Always with a quick answer to anything train related. He will be truly missed. My condolences to Cora and the family.

I know you will be starting a new DCS users group up there Barry. May you rest in peace.

Jeff

I am more of a reader than a writer on the forum, I never had the blessing of meeting or speaking to Barry, but I read his book and it is dog eared.  I enjoyed his comments and his insights.  I did not have the chance to meet him but I think that I'm a little envious of those that had and could call him friend.  It is one more reason to cherish both the time we spend in our daily life and the people we meet both in our hobby and our lives. 

I have repeatedly, probably too often, spoken about the warmth and the patience those on this forum have shown each other.  I hope that Barry's family know how much he will be missed even by those he did not know or that he even knew who read his comments.

He managed to brighten our days and our knowledge. 

May his memory be a blessing.

RIP to the doyen of DCS and an inspiring member of the hobby. Many condolences to Barry B’s family.

Wow truly stunned. When DCS first came out Barry andI would share tips and tricks we learned with each other. We did upgrade at York together he will be missed and my condolences to Cora and Family as well as the whole trains family he was a super contributor to the hobby.

RIP Barry

I don't use DCS, but as a regular here it was apparent that Barry was one of those rare forum participants who was "in the business" of model trains with his book sales, but who nevertheless was extraordinarily generous in sharing his knowledge here with anyone who needed it.

Prayers and condolences to his family and many friends.