Robert R. Barr, 79, passed away peacefully on June 25, 2011 at the Westerly Hospital in the company of his family.
Born in Peoria, Illinois on December 20, 1931, he was the eldest son of Arthur R. and Ruth M. Barr.
Bob is survived by his wife of 36 years, Marilyn (Fish) Barr, their daughter, Margaret and her fiance, Mark Leonard. He was the loving and proud father of Katharine (Katie) Barr who passed away in 2000.
Also surviving are his brother Richard Barr and his wife, Patricia, of Peoria and nieces Pamela, Kerri and Beth.
Bob graduated from Spalding Institute in Peoria and entered Marquette University in 1948. The following year he joined the Society of Jesus at Florissant, Mo. He studied at St. Louis University, receiving degrees in philosophy and theology. In 1967 he received his doctorate from the Institut Catholique de Paris.
Later, he taught at St. Louis University, the Pontifical Russian College in Rome, and St. Anselm's College. He left the Jesuit order in 1974.
From 1974 to 1979 he was associate editor at Silver Burdett Company in Morristown, NJ. The family then moved to Connecticut in 1979 where he spent a year at Twenty-Third Publications.
In 1981, he returned to the classroom as lecturer in philosophy at the University of Connecticut, Avery Point and later at Three Rivers Community College. Teaching gave him great joy in his life and he cherished the chance to share his ideas on the universe and evolution inspired by his fellow Jesuit, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin.
Also at this time, he began his important work as translator of the many books by Latin-American liberation theologians who were interpreting their Christian faith through the suffering of the poor and critiquing the society and institutions that allowed these injustices. His work was acknowledged when he received the Christopher Award for his 1986 translation from Spanish of "Faith of the People" by Pablo Galdamez.
He was the author of "Main Currents in Early Christian Thought", "Scriptural Comfort for Trying Times", "Dr. Barr's Tales: Stories of Katharine", and most recently, "The Future of Evolution". Bob was also a poet who wrote with great beauty and sensitivity.
His intelligence, kindness and humor will be sadly missed by all who knew him.
A Memorial Mass to celebrate his life will be held at St. Catherine of Siena Church, Preston on Tuesday, July 5 at 7 PM. Relatives and friends are invited to attend.
His family will gather for a private burial at Elm Grove Cemetery, Mystic.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lighthouse Voc-Ed Center, 744 Long Hill Rd., Groton, CT 06340 or, Mystic & Noank Library, 40 Library St., Mystic, CT 06355.
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