Glover, Barry Clayton

Glover, Barry Clayton (1930-2020)
Barry died peacefully at home on October 7 on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, after 30 years of managing prostate cancer which only became debilitating in the last year of his life. He leaves behind Joan, his wife of 69 years, his son Wayne (Bill), grandson Christopher, brother Roy (Bonnie), sister Marilyn Washington, sister-in-law Fay Sproule, sister-in-law Sheila Mosley, nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews.
Barry was born October 29, 1930 in Port Credit, Ontario, son of Harold (“Hal”) Glover and Ivy (Blower). His paternal grandfather, James Glover, hailed from Guernsey in the Channel Islands, and grandmother, Harriet (Hill) from London England. His maternal grandfather, Mark Blower, was born in Port Credit and grandmother, Olive (Schafer) came from London England.
Barry attended elementary and high school in Port Credit. He started at the University of Toronto with the plan to become an Engineer but left in first year to assist in the family business, Glover Electric, wiring the homes in the tremendous building boom of the 1950’s and 1960’s in what was to become known as Mississauga. He went on to work at Etobicoke Hydro, McDonald Douglas Aircraft and GE Electric, going back to Devry Institute at nights to get his qualification in electronics. He joined George Brown College in 1973 as an instructor of electricity and electronics and finished his career there. Barry was a “natural” teacher, prepared thoroughly for his classes, and had the time and patience with his students to explain difficult concepts. He wasn’t satisfied until he heard, “Now I get it!”
That patience and empathy extended to his friendships. In so many ways Barry was “a natural charmer” who made lasting friends easily and engaged them in easy conversations or discussions about how to fix this, or make that work. He was not a judgemental man, accepting each person for who he or she was and bringing them into his own sphere.
It was always Barry’s ambition to build his dream home and after purchasing 5.5 acres on the Niagara Escarpment above Creemore, Ontario from which could be seen Georgian Bay in 1971, he and Joan began in earnest. From a bare bones pre-fab shell, he finished the inside of the home, and over time, kept adding to it, pushing the original rooms out to make more space as well as building a separate studio, a gazebo, a garage to house his car and tractors, and a workshop. There was plenty of grass to cut with his mower!
Barry was always learning. At various points in time, he took up curling, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, motorcycle riding, bee keeping, gardening, knitting and folk-art productions, square dancing, and playing organ, guitar and banjo. He always loved camping, taking boys camping as a cub and scout leader. He was a keen amateur astronomer, getting up late on cold, star-filled nights to view the heavens, as well as a gifted amateur painter in oils; many of his pictures which were asked for by others to include in their homes. Barry was an avid reader whether it was non-fiction (astronomy, biographies, and history were favourite subjects) or fiction (James Harriott, Ian Rankin, Barbara Vine, and Linwood Barclay being some favourite authors).
By 2016, plowing snow and mowing grass became too much and he and Joan moved to Salt Spring Island to be closer to Wayne and Bill, to enjoy the temperate clime and wonderful biodiversity of British Columbia. He could never get enough of Ganges Harbour, Duck Creek, Bourgoyne Bay (his last big hike was out to Daffodil Point), Trincomali Channel, Active Pass, and of course the Coastal mountains in the distance. He was an observant naturalist and hoped that British Columbians would always protect and nurture their environment that he enjoyed so much.
At the end, Barry expressed his appreciation for the support he received from Drs Parimi and McCracken at the BC Cancer Clinic in Victoria, but especially for the kindness and thoughtfulness of Dr. Peter Verheul and staff (Sandy, Sarah, and Jennifer) at Eagle Ridge Clinic. Thank you ever so much for being there for him.
Anyone wishing to make a donation in remembrance of Barry please do so to Greenwoods Eldercare Society, Salt Spring Island, or a charity of your choice.