Barry Brown 1992 Obituary

Michael Dipietro '66 said:

I first saw Barry as cornet soloist with the CCHS concert band when they played at Lisha Kill in spring 1962, Barry’s senior year.
Band director Mr Carr announced Barry, the featured soloist, as “Mr Springstead’s pride and joy.” Mr. S was a Lisha Kill PE teacher but was also CCHS varsity cross country track coach, and Barry was already recognized locally and statewide as a cross country contender for national stature.

I think Barry attended Providence College in RI. I didn’t know him personally, but I remember seeing him in CCHS hallways when he was off from college and would stop by for a visit. His CCHS sweetheart, Lynn Rossi, was a year behind Barry and wore his varsity letter sweater: that was “a thing” in those days as was portrayed by Cindy Williams in “American Grafitti.”

As I understand it Barry continued running for years after high school.
In those days putting in the miles was often a solo and lonely task (note “The Lonliness of the Long Distance Runner”), not the social event it has become today.

I think I recall Coach Springstead having once written that he would sometimes ride along in his car while Barry, in training, ran along the side of dark and lonely streets. That took dedication from each of them.

I think Barry attended Albany Law School for a while, but then decided to instead become a paralegal, which he did.

The capital district public thought Barry might make an Olympic team, but I don’t think he ever did.
I remember seeing Barry run the steeple chase (an endurance race) that was covered on “Wild World of Sports.” He had to jump hurdles, land in puddles, then continue running in wet shoes, …. .

That is my limited knowledge of BB.
He was one of CCHS’s greats.

He left a legacy of excellent cross country teams for several years following his graduation in 1962.
To today’s students, that seems like a century ago, which actually, it is, almost.
md