Obituary of Robert Barry Considine

Home: Fallsburg, New York USA Place of Birth: New York, New York USA ROBERT BARRY CONSIDINE May 26, 1942-December 29, 2012 New York City, New York/Fallsburg, New York Robert "Barry" Considine's spirit left this earth on Saturday, December 29, 2012, after an extremely arduous two-year struggle with liver cancer, despite the valiant, expert, and profoundly loving efforts of Dr. Jean Emond, Dr. Josh Weintraub and the entire Liver Team at New York Presbyterian Columbia, winning many "impossible" battles along the way. His family will be eternally grateful. Barry was born to two successful and critically acclaimed writers, Bob Considine and Millie Considine, but after graduating from Cardinal Farley Military Academy, in Rhinecliff, New York in 1960, Barry decided to follow his own dream by pursuing a career in live-broadcast television after spending his first year out of school at RCA studying his craft. Over the years Barry became a wonderfully talented and respected studio engineer/cameraman, working shows such as Merv Griffin, The Tonight Show, Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, & Good Morning America. Barry found the challenge of live TV production both exhilarating and rewarding and was valued for his split-second reaction time and ability to anticipate the perfect shot. In a career that spanned nearly six decades, Barry also worked on soap operas and game shows, including One Life to Live and Jeopardy, and a number of special events including Christmas Eve Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral and New Year's Eve in Times Square. He earned multiple Emmy nominations and won one, for PBS's "Mark Twain Tonight" with Hal Holbrook. *** Twenty-seven years ago, after many years of struggling with alcohol addiction, Barry was finally able to put down his last drink and achieve long-term sobriety through the Twelve-Step program and fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous. In his new sober life, his faith and devotion to God and humankind was renewed. Eclectic spiritually, he was a great but humble lover of God in all His forms. Barry particularly embraced the Catholic Church's messages of social justice. He also found great peace and fulfillment in Siddha Yoga Meditation, which he faithfully practiced every day for many years. He strove to "love one another as I love you" as evidenced in his compassion and empathy towards others, particularly those still suffering, and was a great power of example especially to newcomers to AA. All who knew Barry knew him to be very genuine and open-hearted from the first moment of meeting. He was a big guy with a big heart and easy smile, extremely funny, kind and loving, never deliberately causing harm to another in word or deed. Barry had a great natural talent for music, never learning to read music, but skillfully playing multiple instruments by ear, particularly piano, jazz style. He took great joy in life, delighting in his friends and family, photographing and videotaping them, riding his motorcycle, and eating ice cream! He was allergic to cat dander and housework. *** He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Eileen; his daughter, Kelly; son, Jonathan and daughter-in-law, Patricia; step-daughter, Jennifer McGarry and husband, Joe Spletzer; former wife, Sue Considine; brother Michael and partner, Nevada; brother Dennis and wife, Patty; sister Debbie; and countless friends. *** Cremation was held at Cedar Hill Crematory in Middle Hope, NY A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, January 7, 2013 at St. Peter's R.C. Church, 264 N. Main Street, Liberty, New York at 11:45 am, Msgr. Edward Straub officiating. Following Mass, light refreshments will be offered at the United Methodist Church, 170 North Main Street, Liberty, NY. A Celebration of Life for Barry will be held in late February.