David Gabriel Barrow

DAVID GABRIEL BARROW 1952-2012 David Gabriel Barrow was born to William Gregoreas Barrow and Violet May Farran-Barrow on February 17, 1952, the second of seven children. He died on November 12, 2012 after a brave battle with a series of unconscionable health occurrences. Never did he whimper; never did he shirk. David was graduated from Macomber High School, attended the University of Toledo and was graduated from The Bulova School of Watch and Clock Making and Repair in New York City, one of the most prestigious schools in the world. He completed his studies at the Bulova School in less than ten months instead of the normal two years. He founded Barrow’s Jewelers and Horologists on Glendale Avenue upon his graduation from the Bulova School, along with Gabriel, Lisa and Gregory. He went on to earn his building contractor’s license and his real estate license and was hands- on in conducting his business. He built beautiful, quality homes. David was one of the River Road Boys; John Frisch, Eric Beale and Tom Stengle. He had friends in all walks of life. These friends stood by him as he stood by them. His circle of utmost loyal friends was amazing. Always by his side and never losing contact with him were the “River Road Boys’ along with Jerry Berning, Pete Eckel, Walt Ericson, Farris Genide, Matt Janowiecki, Mark Monnette, Mitch Howard, Ray Deeb, Corky Hong, Jim Opaczewski, Ole Ewert, Tom Stengel, Danny Baz, Tim Fuller, Doc Murry and dear, Janis Darah and Kats Craley. They visited him from hospital to whatever the next facility might be. Some sat with him vigilantly for long periods of time; others brought him food and stimulating conversation, which he thoroughly enjoyed as these were some of his most cherished moments during this difficult journey. David also loved his friends from St. Elias…Bill Darah, Sr. who brought him big sandwiches and the many other friends that visited him from church—his extended family… We thank one of his most loyal cousins, Barbara J. Brown. She and David had a special cousin-friend relationship. Her dedication and loving attitude was paramount in keeping David’s spirits up during this long and tumultuous time. Again, she brought him good food and conversation. He loved snowmobiling, boating, building, camping, swimming and entertaining. His parties were legendary. He could turn a small bowl of hummus into a swimming pool sized event. He loved cutting and preparing lamb and his affinity for avocados was unmatched. His mother will miss her ‘helper’. His prowess at the grill was masterful. His grape leaves were delicious works of art. David felt he could feed the world… and did so on a regular basis. The phone call would be made: “We’re eating; are you coming?” and the party was on. David particularly loved his dogs, Zeus, Zack and Joe to name a few. They were treated the way he treated the rest of the world – like kings and true friends. His home was where every out of town relative and friend wanted to stay – and did. The Barrow House was always filled with fun and excitement. David always had a smile on his face. His mother, Violet, quipped that she never knew what to expect. Each time she returned from vacation, a renovation of gargantuan proportions had been done to the house. David was a man of vision and his mission was to make the vision materialize. David also loved to travel and often arrived unannounced. East Coast, West Coast, North and South were destinations of choice. One would hear his voice and he would appear. Planes, trains and automobiles were his friends. A sense of adventure and unending love lived in David Barrow; just ask his Uncle Richard, Aunt Carmen and Cousin Nick Farran. David was preceded in death by his grandfather, The Reverend Father Gabriel Barrow of St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church, Khouriyi Beatrice Barrow, his father William G. Barrow, Uncle Ronald Barrow, Grandfather George Farran, Grandmother Evelyn Farran, Uncle Munsel J. Saliba, Aunt Mary Farran Saliba, Uncle Robert Farran, and Uncle Dale Mock. Left to cherish his Memory Eternal are his siblings, Denise (David) Matheny, Gabriel (Jackie) Barrow, Michelle (Randy) Popoff, Gregory (Sharon) Barrow, Lisa Barrow, and William (Dr. Danielle) Barrow, as well as myriad nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and Godchildren. Visitation will be Thursday, November 15th, from 2-8pm at Coyle Funeral Home, 1770 S. Reynolds Road, Toledo, Ohio. Trisagion prayers will be at 7:00 P.M. The funeral will be Friday, November 16, 10:00am at St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church at 4940 Harroun Road, Sylvania, Ohio with Father Ignatius Warren officiating. Interment will be a short distance from St. Elias at The Toledo Memorial Park Cemetery and Mausoleum. Afterwards, the family invites you to return to the church and break bread celebrating David’s life. Tributes/memorial donations may be made to St. Elias Church or to the charity of the donor’s choice. To Follow is the Story from the Blade: David Barrow (Featured) (1952-2012) (News article) A man who mastered watch repair and home building - and many avocations, too - after a car crash at age 18 left him a paraplegic, David Barrow died Monday in Advanced Specialty Hospital in Toledo. He was 60. Two years ago, he had kidney surgery, then a stroke. A series of health problems and lengthy stays in a list of hospitals and nursing homes followed. "He had such a positive attitude," his brother, Gabe, said. "Even the last year-and-a-half, you'd never have met a more positive guy. "He had drive. Unbridled determination," his brother said. "This guy was handed a bad deal at the age of 18, and he never said, 'Why me?' " Mr. Barrow tried not to let the health struggles of the last two years get to him, said Matt Janowiecki, a friend. "It was incredible. It took a special person to be able to endure the mental anguish and physical anguish and suffering he had to go through," Mr. Janowiecki said. Mr. Barrow's car was hit broadside in April, 1970, at South Detroit and South avenues, his brother said. He underwent back surgery and was under hospital care for more than a year. He had full use of his arms and was paralyzed from the sternum down. He used a wheelchair and drove, but work in his father's remodeling and contracting business no longer seemed possible. "My dad wanted him to have a good future, something he could do," his brother said. Mr. Barrow learned his craft at the Joseph Bulova School of Watchmaking in Woodside, N.Y. Afterward, he solicited watch-repair jobs from jewelry retailers in Toledo and in Michigan. His brother, Gabe, had followed him at the Bulova school and, at their parents' home off River Road in South Toledo, they labored over the watches. The brothers returned the work, completed, within a week. The stores weren't always as prompt with payment. "We finally decided we're not getting paid to do the work at wholesale, we might as well do it retail," his brother said. Mr. Barrow and Gabe, joined by their brother, Greg, and sister, Lisa, in the 1970s opened Barrow's Jewelers and Horologists on Glendale Avenue. "We didn't have a clue about business," Gabe said. "We got a baptism by fire for awhile." David Barrow's knack for winning friends and customers and his skill at the bench helped establish the store. Restoring pocket watches, some a century old, was one specialty. "He loved cleaning and refurbishing antique pocket watches," Gabe said. "He was a good repairman and watch and clock master. But he could talk the business up, and people knew him to be honest and straight and forthright." Jewelry work was not yet on the menu, but after a customer asked to have a ring sized, Mr. Barrow bought a torch and other equipment and read up on ring sizing. By the 1990s, "he was getting bored sitting at the bench with the wheelchair," Gabe said. David Barrow then took on home building and oversaw the construction of seven houses. "He was helping dig ditches and slam boards together and pour sidewalks," Gabe said. "If a job wouldn't be done right, he'd get another person to finish the job. He never left the job undone." John Robinson Block, publisher and editor-in-chief of The Blade, grew up with the Barrows in South Toledo and knew David and his family. "His brother Gabe was a close friend at Harvard School. That made David Barrow (two years older) part of our play group. His tragic car accident was the worst thing to befall anyone we knew growing up in the 1960s on River Road," Mr. Block said. Mr. Janowiecki said of Mr. Barrow: "He didn't let anything stop him physically, even if he had to get out of the chair and crawl over to show somebody how to do something." That trait was obvious when they met about 30 years ago at the 21st Century Health Spa in Maumee, where Mr. Janowiecki was an instructor. "He came in to start working out. We got to be friends from there," Mr. Janowiecki said. Mr. Barrow did bicep and tricep work; delt raises and lat pulldowns, and could bench press 400 pounds - anything to build his upper body. "He physically was incredibly strong," Mr. Janowiecki said. Mr. Barrow from an early age had an extended circle of close friends - and others gravitated to him. "He was very easy to talk to, and once you got talking to him, you wanted to continue to talk to him because he had an outgoing personality," Mr. Janowiecki said. "David had a unique personality," Mr. Janowiecki said. "He was very intelligent and had a photographic memory, and he was very outspoken and very knowledgeable in many areas, from construction to politics to general life skills." Mr. Barrow entertained friends and family members at the home he shared with his mother, but he didn't hesitate to roll his wheelchair to his car; put the chair in the car, and go - either bound for a road trip or a commercial airline flight. He liked to ski and toboggan, camp and, through his 20s, water ski on the Maumee. His Rottweilers rarely left his side. "He never let anything afflict him," Gabe said. Mr. Barrow was born Feb. 17, 1952, to the former Violet Farran and William Barrow. He attended Bowsher High School and was a graduate of the former Macomber Vocational Technical High School. Surviving are his mother, Violet; sisters, Denise Matheny, Michelle Popoff, and Lisa Barrow, and brothers, Gabriel, Gregory, and William Barrow. Visitation will be from 2-8 p.m. Thursday in the Coyle Funeral Home, with Trisagion prayers at 7 p.m. in the mortuary. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church, Sylvania. The family suggests tributes to the church or a charity of the donor's choice. Contact Blade staff writer Mark Zaborney at: mzaborney@theblade.com or 419-724-6182. Published in Toedo Blade on November 14, 2012

David Gabriel Barrow

February 17, 1952 - November 12, 2012