Michael William Barnes, of Peterborough, New Hampshire, died Thursday evening June 27, 2019 at Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts after a long battle with cancer. He was 72. Born October 12, 1946 in Windsor, Ontario, he was oldest child – and only son - of the late John Anderson Barnes and Patricia Marie Sugrue.
An avid reader, Michael enrolled in University of New York at Plattsburgh in 1965 to pursue an English degree. However, he left in 1966 to enlist in the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, also known as the “Sky Soldiers” –a post that took him almost immediately to Vietnam. Within a year of enlisting, Michael was shot in the leg at the Battle of Dak To and airlifted out of combat to be treated for his injuries. For his sacrifice for his country, Michael was awarded the Purple Heart Medal.
Upon return to the United States, Michael remained in military hospital through a series of operations to restore function to his injured leg. Around 1968, he returned to Plattsburgh where, while still on crutches, he met a young college student named Kathleen Elaine Kennedy and asked her to dance. They dated for many years before finally marrying on August 30, 1980 in Old Lyme, CT.
Michael’s professional career was a dynamic one. As a wounded veteran, options seemed limited, so his father got him a spot in a welding program at Electric Boat in Mystic, Connecticut. Michael lasted one or two days before finding his way out of welding and into the planning office where his career as a defense and aerospace industry businessman took off. Michael’s professional acumen and wry sense of humor inspired great loyalty in his co-workers and employees and served him well through an illustrious career that saw him in posts at General Dynamics in Marshfield, MA and Pomona, CA, McDonald Douglas in St. Louis, MO, Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids, IA, Windmill International and finally at Cobham TCS, both in Nashua, NH. Michael finally retired in 2013.
Through his work, Michael traveled the world, always returning home to his growing family. He and Kathleen had two children; Julia Patricia Kennedy Barnes and John Michael Barnes. They also made sure the house had at least one canine companion at all times.
Beyond keeping his family laughing and amassing an enviable book collection, Michael aspired to build model ships, enjoyed calling out the answers while watching Jeopardy, and loved detailing his cars every weekend.
He will be missed intensely and forever by those who survive him - his wife and children, his sisters Kristina Veilleux and husband Richard Veilleux, Kathy Sheehan and husband Bill Sheehan, Martha Barnes and Patricia “Gay” Barnes, his nieces and nephews – Jennifer Sheehan, Adele Veilleux, Andrew Veilleux, and Jeb McKinnon, his friends, and his Yorkie, Mackie.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Fisher House under Michael’s name at http://engage.fisherhouse.org/goto/mwbarnes