Larry Dana Barnes was a unique person, but he arrived in the usual way, at the hospital in Dansville, NY, on October 19, 1940.
He was the first of 3 children born to Dana K. Barnes and his wife, Louise M. Denton Barnes. His earliest childhood memories came from those days in Dansville where his father was trying to establish himself as a professional photographer. Shortly following the end of World War II, Dana moved his family to Jamestown, NY, where he established the Dana Studio of Photography. For years, his creative eye behind the camera, his skill in retouching photographs by hand, and his wife’s talents as a “colorist” to enhance some of the portraits, resulted in portraiture of outstanding quality and a highly regarded reputation for the family business.
Larry grew up in this artistic milieu, developing his own creative abilities. He eventually became known for his own amateur photographic skills and for his abilities to imagine design, and build everything from small whimsical tabletop items to complicated paper, plastic and wood models of real structures, to construction of two unique and dearly beloved houses. Larry might just a easily been an engineer as a college professor and historian. During his school years in Jamestown, he excelled in his academic endeavors, graduating from Jamestown High School in 1959. While in school, he played clarinet in the High School band and served as the band’s public spokesperson. Public speaking came easily to Larry and, combined with his strong intellect and methodical research skills, it was inevitable that he would become a member of the school’s award winning debate team. He also won a national competition in extemporaneous public speaking.
Following graduation from high school, he studied at Jamestown Community College, Harpur College (now part of SUNY Binghamton), and the University of Iowa in Iowa City. He began his college years as a math major but segued into experimental psychology earning his M.A. degree from the University of Iowa in 1966. That fall, he began his teaching career at Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica; two years later he joined the faculty at the one-year old Genesee Community College moving through the ranks from Instructor to Professor during the 37 years of his tenure there. The traditional Psychology classes offered at GCC soon expanded under Larry’s guidance to include one of the earliest college courses in Human Sexuality. This course offering was recognized as a pioneer in that field of study and Larry was proud of the role he played in the development of that. During his years at GCC, he earned an AA degree in the Modelmaking program and taught some Modelmaking classes until the program was disbanded some years later.
In 2005, following retirement from his teaching career, Larry was encouraged to try some volunteer activities and found himself at the Genesee County History Department. Larry’s task was to organize boxes of donated materials for archival and retrieval purposes. He became fascinated with what he was learning about Batavia’s history and governmental procedures. When the position of Batavia’s City Historian became vacant in 2007, Larry was appointed to the post. Initially, it was a volunteer position and Larry was, in fact, recognized as the City Volunteer of the Year in 2015. Shortly thereafter, a budget line was created for the position and Larry became Batavia’s first paid City Historian. For 16 years until his resignation in December of 2023, Larry was the face of all things historical in Batavia. He loved this place he called home, its long history from a wilderness settlement, to village, to city, and the many notable individuals who were a part of Batavia’s story. His impeccable research leading to numerous monographs, books, lectures, and other public presentations has brought much of Batavia’s history to light for the enlightenment of people now and for generations to come.
Larry was also a man who felt strongly about the need to provide service to his community by supporting and sometimes actively advocating for the organizations and principles which he deemed to be important. To this end he was involved in a number of realms over the years. Most notable among the many endeavors to which he contributed his skills were the Tonawanda Valley Federal Credit Union, Planned Parenthood, Office for the Aging, PALS (People Against Lost Services, a group in opposition to the merger of then Genesee Memorial Hospital with the former St. Jerome Hospital), the First Universalist Church of Rochester, Genesee County Landmark Society, among others.
Back in 1957 during his junior year of high school, Larry was enrolled in a typing class. A fellow classmate who happened to be enrolled in the same class was assigned to a seat right next to Larry. Conversation ensued, a small spark was ignited. It took a year but in October of 1958, Larry asked this classmate for a date; she accepted his invitation, and their lives were forever set upon a new course. In August, 1964, Larry married Jerianne Louise Miller.
Their married life began in Iowa City followed by 2 years in Utica. It was there in 1968, they became the parents of their only child, Diana Elizabeth Barnes. From her first days on this earth, she was her father’s greatest joy, and his pride in every accomplishment she’s ever achieved was palpable. Fatherhood was probably his most cherished role.
Larry read non-fiction voraciously, the more complex the subject matter and the longer the book, the happier he was. He and Jerianne (and Diana in her earlier years) traveled throughout the United States and Canada. There were travel trailers early on, then many years of tent camping, followed by the “Casita” years. His “happy place” was in the driver’s seat of his small truck, towing the tiny little Casita to some far flung location. There he and Jerianne would explore, and hike, and read, and sit under their canopy; and he would take thousands of photographs to add to all the other photos he had taken before. He was a man of simple pleasures.
From childhood, Larry had a major interest in anything with wheels. Once he graduated from his kiddie tricycle and discovered the pleasures to be had in riding a two-wheeler, he became a lifetime cyclist. All through high school and college, he rode his bike at a time when it was decidedly “uncool” to do such a thing. Larry didn’t care! He participated in some bicycle racing in his younger years, rode all over Genesee County, and even branched out to riding a motorcycle for a few years. Some of his happiest memories came from the three long-distance rides he undertook with his daughter when they participated in two group Erie Canal rides (Buffalo to Albany) and one Hudson River ride (Albany to the tip of Manhattan). He continued to gently pedal his stationary bicycle until the day before his final illness.
Those who knew Larry well knew a man who was often quiet, preferring to absorb the conversations going on around him rather than being engaged in them. But they would also know that he could “schmooze” and “work the room”, often touting his latest research findings or traveling adventures. People will also remember that wherever he went and whatever the occasion, his wonderful dry sense of humor was sure to be there as well.
Larry was predeceased by both of his parents. He is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, Jerianne; his daughter, Diana, and her husband, William Fox, of Clarendon; his sister, Linda, and her husband, Todd Anderson, of Jamestown, NY; his brother, Curtis, and his wife, Patty Barnes, of Jamestown; 3 nieces and their husbands; one great-niece; 1 nephew and his wife.
Larry was a small man but his impact looms large as he passes into the annals of Batavia’s history. From the education he provided to thousands of students who passed through his classrooms to the dissemination and preservation of Batavia’s history, to his efforts to help shape the future of organizations and principles in which he believed, to the warm and caring personae he brought to the family members and friends he met along the way, it truly can be said that this was a man whose life made a difference and whose influence will live on long after his time on earth has come to an end.
Larry died on June 21, 2024 at The Gateway Home in Attica where he had received gentle, compassionate end of life care for the past several weeks. He was 83 years old.
His body is to be cremated, and his earthly remains will be privately interred in the Historic Batavia Cemetery. A Celebration of Life service will be held on July 28 th at 2pm at the Main Street 56 Theater in Batavia. It will be a time of reflection, remembrance, celebration and sharing. All arrangements are being handled by the H.E. Turner & Co., Inc. Funeral Home, Batavia.
Floral tributes are gratefully declined, but memorial contributions may be made to The Gateway Home, 91 Main St., Attica, NY 14011; Richmond Memorial Library, 19 Ross St., Batavia, NY 14020; Holland Land Office Museum, 131 W. Main St., Batavia, NY 14020; or Main Street 56 Theater, 56 Main St., Batavia, NY 14020.
Please leave a condolence, share a story, or light a candle at www.bataviafuneralhomes.com.
