Kenneth Poe Funeral Services

July 9, 2022

Donald J. Barr

March 3, 1935–July 9, 2022

Donald Joseph Barr (“Don”), a longtime resident of Old Greenwich, Connecticut, passed away peacefully at the age of 87 on July 9, 2022, in Charlotte, NC, surrounded by his loving family. Don’s legacy was deeply rooted in family, friends, faith, and hard work. He was a devoted husband to Jane, his wife of 59 years, father to his four children, and grandfather (known as “Big Daddy”) to his eleven grandchildren. Born and raised in Chicago, he was the youngest of Bernadine S. Egart and Peter L. Barr’s four children. In 1953, Don graduated from St. Michael’s High School in Chicago and spent summers working as a golf caddy at North Shore Country Club in Glenview, IL. Encouraged by a club member, he applied for an Evans Scholarship for deserving caddies and received an undergraduate scholarship to the University of Notre Dame, where he “walked on” to play varsity basketball. In 1957, he graduated as the vice president of his class. One of his fondest and proudest memories was of introducing that year’s commencement speaker, future U.S. President John F. Kennedy.

Don had a passion for people, which fueled his successful 40-year career with Time Inc. He was hired directly out of college in Chicago, IL. and held various posts in corporate manufacturing and distribution. Don recalled his first assignment was sifting through old metal printing plates of covers of Time, Fortune, and Life magazines to help management determine which were the most influential to date. In 1965, he was named European director of production, and he and Jane were transferred to Paris, where he ran operations for Europe and Africa. Upon their return to the U.S., Don attended Harvard’s Executive MBA Program and was later named general manager of Time in 1971 at the New York headquarters. In 1976, he moved to Sports Illustrated magazine as associate publisher while also serving as its advertising sales director, and eventually took the helm as publisher in 1986. One of his colleagues recounted, “No wonder Don’s golf handicap went from four to eight. That’s a lot of selling.” He was S.I.’s publisher for several years and felt his greatest contribution in this role was conceiving the idea of Sports Illustrated for Kids to increase literacy among school age children, an endeavor that led to many publications following suit. In 1990, he was named executive vice president of Time Inc., from which he retired in 1996. Don’s last office was located on the executive floor, where the iconic printing plates that he had salvaged 31 years earlier graced the lobby ceiling. He recalled that he never stepped into that lobby without looking up and feeling so blessed by his career at Time Inc.

Don’s career took him around the world and frequently placed him in the company of many sports icons, captains of industry, and heads of state. He was also fortunate to be a member of several world-renowned golf clubs and societies. But these were not the stories he told. His favorite stories to share were about his hardworking mother and father and his heroic brothers. Don was a faithful and devoted man with a quit wit and a keen ability to tell a story. He was guided by a strong moral compass and had an enormously generous heart. Don lived by the motto, “Pay it forward.” He never took his success for granted and always attributed his achievements to those who helped him along the way. Don spent his life mentoring, connecting people, and giving back. He served on numerous boards and supported many causes throughout his life. However, The First Tee, a youth development program designed to introduce the game of golf and its inherent values to young people, is where he enthusiastically focused much of his energy, spending nearly a decade in the role of chairman of the board for the Connecticut chapter.

Don was predeceased by his parents; his brother and sister-in-law, Kenneth and Kathryn Barr; his sister and brother-in-law, Irma and Vernon Simmons; and his son-in-law, L. Garrison Miller Jr. He is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Richard and Ann Ellen Barr of Buffalo Grove, IL; his wife, Jane Luigs Barr of Charlotte, NC; his daughter, Carrie Barr Miller of New Canaan, CT; his son, Matthew Charles Barr and daughter-in-law Gwin Carter Barr of Salisbury, NC; his daughter Elizabeth Barr and son-in-law Roberto Fernandez of Greenwich, CT; his daughter Kathryn Barr Dixon and son-in-law Thomas William Wood Dixon of Charlotte, NC; his eleven adoring grandchildren Charlie, Lucas, Pia, Fifi, Pilar, Annabel, Charlie, Lucy, Ellie, William, and Henry, as well as his many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Evans Scholar Foundation, www.wgaesf.org. There will be a celebration of life for friends and family in the coming weeks, and details are to follow.

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth Poe Services, Charlotte, NC;  (704) 641-7606. Online condolences can be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.