Member Passing

RSWORD · 17th March 2017, 03:44 PM

I have heard through a couple forum members that they had a Facebook notification that Barry Parks, Vandoo here on the forum, passed away the first of March. It was unexpected and the family members that made the post miss him sorely. Barry had a zest for life and thoroughly enjoyed the forum and contributing here. I met Barry a few times and always enjoyed our conversations on our favorite subject. I will miss his posts on clubs and contributions on other subject matter. God Bless you and your family!

ariel · 17th March 2017, 03:48 PM

My condolences to friends and family.

Lee · 17th March 2017, 03:51 PM

Barry has been a mainstay of this community since its inception and he and his extensive freely shared knowledge will be greatly missed.

Rick · 17th March 2017, 04:29 PM

My condolences also.
A great loss to us all.

Sajen · 17th March 2017, 05:09 PM

A very great loss for the forum, I will miss him!

My condolences to his family.

Jim McDougall · 17th March 2017, 05:44 PM

This is a tragic blow to our forums, Barry was one of the key figures here, and the most unique person I have ever met. His sage wisdom and astute observations were always boldly emblazoned in capital letters (due to eyesight) and with a demeanor that always reminded me of Will Rogers.
That seemed interestingly appropriate as he lived in Oklahoma. I once had the pleasure of visiting him there, and was overwhelmed at his incredibly eclectic collections.....I used to tease him that his home was the Oklahoma chapter of the Smithsonian.
I recall in talking as we walked through rooms of displays, mentioning the 'deaths head moth' (from "Silence of the Lambs") ...he calmly smiled, and like a museum docent said, this way......opening drawers of butterflies etc. and there one was!!!!

His interests were boundless, and his passion for everything was thrilling to anyone having the pleasure of talking with him. Intrigued by his pseudonym, VANDOO, he explained it was the mysterious language created by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the language of the apes in "Tarzan".
It fit him, mysterious, esoteric, intriguing, fascinating, and someone I will never ever forget,
VAYA CON DIOS MY FRIEND .YOU WILL BE MISSED BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN.

fernando · 17th March 2017, 05:58 PM

So sad news and unexpected to us here.

Rest in peace, Barry.

My deepest condolences to his family.

mariusgmioc · 17th March 2017, 06:08 PM

Albeit I didn't know him in persom, we had some interesting discussions here and I will certainly miss him. I don't even know what to write except that I am very, very sad.

My deepest sympathies go out to his family!

May God rest him in peace!

kahnjar1 · 17th March 2017, 09:13 PM

Well this is a real shock! My wife and I met Barry and had him to our home when he was here in New Zealand last year. A truly great gentleman and one whose knowledge will be sadly missed on the Forum. Condolences to his Family.
Rest in Peace Barry.
You will be missed.
Bev & Stu

rickystl · 18th March 2017, 12:30 AM

So sorry to hear this. Rest in peace Barry. My best to his Family.
Rick.

Ian · 18th March 2017, 12:48 AM

I first met Barry when he was assisting another of our departed friends, Jimmy Manteris, at Timonium after Jimmy had a stroke. Barry was a kind guy with a real passion for the unusual in ethnographic weapons collecting. In particular, his posts on Pacific Island clubs are a treasure that will live on in this Forum. I shall miss him.

As many of you would have noticed, Barry always wrote in CAPS. When asked why he was always shouting at people, Barry said he wasn't shouting or hard of hearing, just hard of seeing what he had written!

RIP our friend.

Ian.

Barry's last post was Feb. 26, just a few days before his passing.

Rafngard · 18th March 2017, 06:02 AM

I'm a fairly new member here, and I never met the man, but I've spent some time reading through the archives. Nearly every subject I've ever researched had a bold (and ALL CAPS), insightful, and informative post by him. I'm deeply saddened that I've seen the last one. The man was a treasure.

There's an old African proverb: "The death of an elderly man is like a burning library." I know it from my Somali teacher, but the internet insists it's Ivorian.
Either way it fits here.

My deepest condolences to his family.

Thanks,
Leif

kino · 18th March 2017, 06:17 AM

Vandoo will be missed dearly.
Rest In Peace Barry.

Robert · 18th March 2017, 07:38 AM

My deepest condolences to his family and friends. Barry will be truly missed here on the forum, but never forgotten by any who ever knew him. Rest In Peace my friend.

Robert

Green · 18th March 2017, 10:04 AM

Always wonder why he typed in caps and thought it's an eccentric habit of his (for i never think that he was shouting as his comments were always benign and good natured, and now i know better from explanations given by some of you here). Never know him personally but always feel saddened when an active member passed away.My deepest condolences to his family.

thinreadline · 18th March 2017, 11:09 AM

very sorry to hear this ,always enjoyed his posts.

kronckew · 18th March 2017, 11:16 AM

MG! sad news indeed, he was a mentor, a respected teacher and source of help and information resource. he will be irreplaceable.

my condolences to his family and friends, the world is lessened by the passing of a giant. he will be greatly missed.

Norman McCormick · 18th March 2017, 03:00 PM

Very sad to hear that another respected and influential member of our community is no longer with us. Tempus Fugit indeed!
My Regards to Family and Friends,
Norman.

Pukka Bundook · 18th March 2017, 04:05 PM

So Sad! And he will be greatly missed!

Sincere condolences to all his family and friends.

motan · 18th March 2017, 05:59 PM

As new member, I didn't know him, but I enjoyed his posts and the wonderful items he showed in them. We exchanged several messages and he was very nice to me despite my ignorance. Goodbye and rest in peace.

carlos · 19th March 2017, 10:48 AM

Bad news !! . Rest in peace Vandoo

My best to his Family.

Carlos

BANDOOK · 19th March 2017, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carlos

Bad news !! . Rest in peace Vandoo

My best to his Family.

Carlos

YES I SAW THE POSTS ON FACEBOOK,BARRY WAS A FRIEND AND HAD COME DOWN TO NZ LAST YEAR ,BUT WAS NOT AWARE I LIVED IN NZ TOO,AFTER HE WENT BACK TO USA HE REALIZED AND SAID HE HOPED HE KNEW AND CAUGHT UP WITH ME,ITS SAD TO KNOW HE IS NO MORE AND WILL BE MISSED
REST IN PEACE BARRY

Battara · 20th March 2017, 02:06 AM

This friend could be a riot! His joking was insane and I will always remember spending time with him here in Louisville and in Baltimore.

He and his library mind will be truly missed here at this forum.

May he walk in peace and I will keep his family in my prayers.

colin henshaw · 20th March 2017, 01:23 PM

I'm sorry to hear of this. My sincere condolences to Barry's family.

Nonoy Tan · 20th March 2017, 02:29 PM

Rest in peace, Barry. You will be missed.

Nonoy

drac2k · 20th March 2017, 02:50 PM

What a terrible shame!I didn't know him personally, but I always found him to be extremely knowledgeable and always willing to dispense information in a kind and noncondensing way; as a teacher should do with logic and not a ruler!

TVV · 20th March 2017, 11:19 PM

Sad news indeed. Condolences to his family.

Teodor

Oliver Pinchot · 8th April 2017, 03:15 AM

Farewell, Barry. You were one of a kind.
Condolences to the Parks family.

asomotif · 8th April 2017, 11:32 PM

Sad news indeed.
My condolence to his family and friends.

Barry was a library, sharing so much information on all kinds of subjects.
And allways kind and informatif in his comments, helping others to learn and to form their own opinions and judgements.

A great loss to the forum and surely a greater loss to the people who knew and loved him.

REST IN PEACE BARRY.

Maurice · 11th April 2017, 09:26 AM

It is always a kind of shock when a forum member passed away!

My deepest condolences to his family and deerest friends, he surely will be missed here...

17th March 2017, 03:44 PM	#1
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,084	Member Passing I have heard through a couple forum members that they had a Facebook notification that Barry Parks, Vandoo here on the forum, passed away the first of March. It was unexpected and the family members that made the post miss him sorely. Barry had a zest for life and thoroughly enjoyed the forum and contributing here. I met Barry a few times and always enjoyed our conversations on our favorite subject. I will miss his posts on clubs and contributions on other subject matter. God Bless you and your family!

17th March 2017, 03:51 PM	#3
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 914	Sad news Barry has been a mainstay of this community since its inception and he and his extensive freely shared knowledge will be greatly missed.

17th March 2017, 05:44 PM	#6
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,954	RIP my friend. This is a tragic blow to our forums, Barry was one of the key figures here, and the most unique person I have ever met. His sage wisdom and astute observations were always boldly emblazoned in capital letters (due to eyesight) and with a demeanor that always reminded me of Will Rogers. That seemed interestingly appropriate as he lived in Oklahoma. I once had the pleasure of visiting him there, and was overwhelmed at his incredibly eclectic collections.....I used to tease him that his home was the Oklahoma chapter of the Smithsonian. I recall in talking as we walked through rooms of displays, mentioning the 'deaths head moth' (from "Silence of the Lambs") ...he calmly smiled, and like a museum docent said, this way......opening drawers of butterflies etc. and there one was!!!! His interests were boundless, and his passion for everything was thrilling to anyone having the pleasure of talking with him. Intrigued by his pseudonym, VANDOO, he explained it was the mysterious language created by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the language of the apes in "Tarzan". It fit him, mysterious, esoteric, intriguing, fascinating, and someone I will never ever forget, VAYA CON DIOS MY FRIEND .YOU WILL BE MISSED BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN.

17th March 2017, 09:13 PM	#9
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,741	Rest in Peace Barry Well this is a real shock! My wife and I met Barry and had him to our home when he was here in New Zealand last year. A truly great gentleman and one whose knowledge will be sadly missed on the Forum. Condolences to his Family. Rest in Peace Barry. You will be missed. Bev & Stu Attached Images Last edited by kahnjar1; 17th March 2017 at 10:14 PM.

18th March 2017, 12:48 AM	#11
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,203	I first met Barry when he was assisting another of our departed friends, Jimmy Manteris, at Timonium after Jimmy had a stroke. Barry was a kind guy with a real passion for the unusual in ethnographic weapons collecting. In particular, his posts on Pacific Island clubs are a treasure that will live on in this Forum. I shall miss him. As many of you would have noticed, Barry always wrote in CAPS. When asked why he was always shouting at people, Barry said he wasn't shouting or hard of hearing, just hard of seeing what he had written! RIP our friend. Ian. Barry's last post was Feb. 26, just a few days before his passing. Last edited by Ian; 18th March 2017 at 01:00 AM.

17th March 2017, 03:48 PM	#2
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	My condolences to friends and family.

17th March 2017, 04:29 PM	#4
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	My condolences also. A great loss to us all.

17th March 2017, 05:09 PM	#5
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,786	A very great loss for the forum, I will miss him! My condolences to his family.

17th March 2017, 05:58 PM	#7
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	So sad news and unexpected to us here. Rest in peace, Barry. My deepest condolences to his family.

17th March 2017, 06:08 PM	#8
mariusgmioc Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Austria Posts: 1,903	Albeit I didn't know him in persom, we had some interesting discussions here and I will certainly miss him. I don't even know what to write except that I am very, very sad. My deepest sympathies go out to his family! May God rest him in peace!

18th March 2017, 12:30 AM	#10
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,623	So sorry to hear this. Rest in peace Barry. My best to his Family. Rick.

18th March 2017, 06:02 AM	#12
Rafngard Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Minneapolis,MN Posts: 342	I'm a fairly new member here, and I never met the man, but I've spent some time reading through the archives. Nearly every subject I've ever researched had a bold (and ALL CAPS), insightful, and informative post by him. I'm deeply saddened that I've seen the last one. The man was a treasure. There's an old African proverb: "The death of an elderly man is like a burning library." I know it from my Somali teacher, but the internet insists it's Ivorian. Either way it fits here. My deepest condolences to his family. Thanks, Leif

18th March 2017, 06:17 AM	#13
kino Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,005	Vandoo will be missed dearly. Rest In Peace Barry.

18th March 2017, 07:38 AM	#14
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	My deepest condolences to his family and friends. Barry will be truly missed here on the forum, but never forgotten by any who ever knew him. Rest In Peace my friend. Robert

18th March 2017, 10:04 AM	#15
Green Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Malaysia Posts: 312	Always wonder why he typed in caps and thought it's an eccentric habit of his (for i never think that he was shouting as his comments were always benign and good natured, and now i know better from explanations given by some of you here). Never know him personally but always feel saddened when an active member passed away.My deepest condolences to his family.

18th March 2017, 11:09 AM	#16
thinreadline Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Wirral Posts: 1,204	very sorry to hear this ,always enjoyed his posts.

18th March 2017, 11:16 AM	#17
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,184	MG! sad news indeed, he was a mentor, a respected teacher and source of help and information resource. he will be irreplaceable. my condolences to his family and friends, the world is lessened by the passing of a giant. he will be greatly missed.

18th March 2017, 03:00 PM	#18
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,598	Very sad to hear that another respected and influential member of our community is no longer with us. Tempus Fugit indeed! My Regards to Family and Friends, Norman.

18th March 2017, 04:05 PM	#19
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	So Sad! And he will be greatly missed! Sincere condolences to all his family and friends.

18th March 2017, 05:59 PM	#20
motan Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Jerusalem Posts: 274	Condolances As new member, I didn't know him, but I enjoyed his posts and the wonderful items he showed in them. We exchanged several messages and he was very nice to me despite my ignorance. Goodbye and rest in peace.

19th March 2017, 10:48 AM	#21
carlos Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 738	Bad news !! . Rest in peace Vandoo My best to his Family. Carlos

20th March 2017, 02:06 AM	#23
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,226	This friend could be a riot! His joking was insane and I will always remember spending time with him here in Louisville and in Baltimore. He and his library mind will be truly missed here at this forum. May he walk in peace and I will keep his family in my prayers.

20th March 2017, 01:23 PM	#24
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,430	I'm sorry to hear of this. My sincere condolences to Barry's family.

20th March 2017, 02:29 PM	#25
Nonoy Tan Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 293	Rest in peace, Barry. You will be missed. Nonoy

20th March 2017, 02:50 PM	#26
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,232	What a terrible shame!I didn't know him personally, but I always found him to be extremely knowledgeable and always willing to dispense information in a kind and noncondensing way; as a teacher should do with logic and not a ruler!

20th March 2017, 11:19 PM	#27
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,625	Sad news indeed. Condolences to his family. Teodor

8th April 2017, 03:15 AM	#28
Oliver Pinchot Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 457	Farewell, Barry. You were one of a kind. Condolences to the Parks family.

8th April 2017, 11:32 PM	#29
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,225	Sad news indeed. My condolence to his family and friends. Barry was a library, sharing so much information on all kinds of subjects. And allways kind and informatif in his comments, helping others to learn and to form their own opinions and judgements. A great loss to the forum and surely a greater loss to the people who knew and loved him. REST IN PEACE BARRY.

11th April 2017, 09:26 AM	#30
Maurice Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,349	It is always a kind of shock when a forum member passed away! My deepest condolences to his family and deerest friends, he surely will be missed here...