A. "Lawrie" Lawrence Barr

Arthur Lawrence Barr, born in 1936, and named for his grandfather and uncle and known from childhood as “Lawrie,”died at his home in Francestown, New Hampshire on Sunday. afternoon, October 29, 2017, after a courageous battle with stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer

He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of George Bishop Barr and Jane Palmer Barr. His two brothers William Stewart Barr and David Owen Barr were both killed very tragically when they were only in their twenties. Lawrie was the great grandson of Dr. William Shaw Stewart of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania who was a doctor in the Civil War and a famous OB/GYN and professor at a medical school in Philadelphia. One of Dr. Stewart’s daughters, and Lawrie’s great aunt, Dorothy Newkirk Stewart was a prominent artist, printmaker and colleague of Georgia O’Keeffe and was one of the first women to run a private printing press in the Southwest. She lived in Santa Fe and worked with the Navajo Indians on the reservation. Her former home, on Canyon Road, known as El Zaguan is now the Historic Santa Fe Foundation.

Lawrie is survived by his wife of 38 years, Carol Prest Barr and his dear mother in law, Frances M. Prest. Carol and Lawrie first met when he was the President of Monadnock Community Day Care Center when it was still located on High Street, in Peterborough, New Hampshire. Carol was the very first staff representative ever elected to the board of directors and Lawrie would visit her classroom and sit in the cozy bay window area and read to her class of four year olds. Many students in Lawrie’s sixth grade class and Carol’s kindergarten class attended their wedding at the Community Church of Francestown. 

From his first marriage, Lawrie is also survived by his daughter Janie Goldschmidt and her husband Josh and their children, Tanner, Ann Riley, and Finley and Janie’s fraternal twin sister Susan G. Barr, all of Virginia. Lawrie also raised his niece Elizabeth Barr, of North Carolina, who is the daughter of his late brother Captain William Stewart Barr. Lawrie was the only father that she had ever known, because Elizabeth was only two months old when her father was killed. He will also be deeply missed by his numerous cousins.

Lawrie’s father was head of the French Department at the Haverford School in Haverford, Pennsylvania where Lawrie was educated from kindergarten through the sixth grade. His maternal grandfather, Arthur Walden Palmer taught at Haverford and together with his wife Alice Owen Palmer, owned and operated a private boys’ camp on Moosehead Lake in Maine, known as “Camp Allagash.” For many years, Lawrie and his parents and many of the “Haverford” boys and their teachers would travel from Philadelphia to spend summers on Moosehead Lake. Lawrie’s father George was the director of the camp. A book has been lovingly written about this amazing camp and the wonderful experiences that many of the boys had at this special place. On the campus of the Haverford School, is a building named the “Palmer House” in honor of Lawrie’s grandparents and there is also a Camp Allagash room complete with numerous items of memorabilia.

Lawrie’s family later moved from Pennsylvania to North Andover, Massachusetts where his father became the head of the French Department at the prep school known as the Brooks School. Brooks was home to the family for 21 years and Lawrie was the “first” faculty child to ever attend Brooks. He was educated there from seventh grade through grade twelve.  The Barr family was well known at Brooks. There is a wooden plaque located in the chapel honoring his late brother and every year a special trophy is given to a most deserving hockey player in his brother’s name. In 2014, Lawrie was given the Brooks School Alumni Bowl Award.  The Alumni Bowl is awarded to that member of the alumni community who has tirelessly and loyally supported the school through their thoughtful and exemplary service and dedication as a volunteer. Connection and community are the focus celebrated with the Alumni Bowl. There was also a special ceremony honoring him.

Lawrie attended Princeton University where his father, grandfather, and great grandfather had attended and then graduated as a French major from Colby College in Waterville, Maine. He was a Kappa Delta Rho fraternity member and President of the Colby College Outing Club. He led many hikes up Mt. Katahdin, Mt. Washington and numerous canoe trips on the Allagash River.

Fraternity life and what it really meant to young men as a “brotherhood” was an important experience in Lawrie’s life, not only in college, but for many years later. He was the Executive Director for his National Fraternity, traveling across the country to all of the KDR chapters. He was responsible for the daily operations and always looked forward to attending events and chapter gatherings.

After college, he spent six years serving in the Army, stationed in Germany. During that time, he frequently traveled to many other European countries.  Because of his father’s “French Connection, ” Lawrie and his family spent time in the villages of Nantes, Pornic, and Vouvray, as well as Paris.

For six years, Lawrie taught at a private school called the Elizabeth Morrow School, in Englewood, New Jersey.  Elizabeth Morrow was Anne Morrow Lindberg’s sister. After leaving New Jersey he began a sixteen year teaching career, teaching “all subjects” at the sixth grade level, at the Peterborough Middle School, now known as the South Meadow School in Peterborough, New Hampshire. While there, he started the very special, “Adopted Grandparent Program.” Each week, he would take his  class across the street to the Pheasant Wood Nursing Home, where each student would be matched up with one of the residents. They would play chess, checkers, and read to the residents and were also expected to keep journals about their experiences. He wanted his students to learn about compassion, love and caring for older people. There was a wonderful article with photographs about Lawrie and his program in the Monadnock Ledger- Transcript.  Another program that he founded while at the Middle School was a program called “Project Share.” It brought young people from kindergarten through the eighth grade together with artists, writers, craftspeople, musicians, etc. and represented 14 towns in the area. Lawrie was also very proud of a Bicentennial Quilt that one of his sixth grade classes helped to create. He cared deeply about his students and no matter what kind of day they may have had with Mr. Barr, he would stand at the doorway of his classroom and look each student in the eye and shake their hands. At the beginning of each school year, he would give his home phone number to the parents and students and would tell them that if they ever had a problem or something that they needed to talk about, to please feel free to call him. It never failed, that at dinnertime, the phone would ring and a little voice would say, “Mr. Barr, can you help me with this math problem, I don’t know how to do it?” He always took time to help and it didn’t matter if he was eating, he was always there for them.

Thirty four years ago, Lawrie left teaching and embarked on what he hoped would be a more lucrative career as a real estate agent. During those years, he had joined a number of different offices, but his favorite place to sell real estate was on the corner of Main and Grove Street, in Peterborough, New Hampshire, at the E. A. Bishop Company. While a realtor there, he participated in many “First Friday” celebrations by hosting with his wife Carol art shows that showcased the works of numerous local artists, including the works of students from the N.H. Art Institute in Manchester, N.H.  All of the paintings that were hanging on the walls in the Bishop Co. were also available for purchase.  A wonderful selection of appetizers was always served, and lovely flower arrangements adorned the tables. It became a popular destination. He also served on a number of real estate committees.

Living in Francestown for many years, Lawrie served on and chaired many committees.  For ten years, he served as the President of the Francestown Improvement and Historical Society, as well as the Chairman of the annual Labor Day Celebration. In fact, he saved FIHS from merging with the Old Meeting House, Inc., because it was his belief that FIHS should maintain its own identity. He was also the President of the Francestown Village Water Co. and Chairman of the Francestown Democratic Committee and attended numerous events and fund raisers for candidates. He knew all of the local state representatives and attended functions with former Governors Shaheen and Hassan, Annie Kuster, Nancy Pelosi and many other prominent politicians.

Next spring or summer, a private graveside service will take place in Francestown.  

Memorial contributions may be sent to the Francestown Improvement & Historical Society, C/O President Charles M. Pyle III, P.O. Box 147, Francestown, N.H. 03043 and/or Brooks School, C/O Rebecca L.J. Geragosian, Director of Donor Relations, 1160 Great Pond Road, North Andover, MA 01845

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