6
ADD A CONTRIBUTION
I'm heartbroken to share that my husband, Barry Maggs, died Saturday morning, March 7th, at the age of 55. This time last year, Barry thought he had injured his back after yet another bout of double black diamond skiing with the kids. It turned out to be cancer of unknown primary that had spread to his bones. He was walking our dog Lola up to three weeks before his death and was immersed in Hilary Mantel's new book and the Democratic Primary when he died peacefully at home.
We hailed from Toronto, met in Hong Kong, and made New York our home. Every week, he used to grab his clubs and go to the Dyker Beach Golf Course. So it's no surprise that he wants some of his ashes scattered nearby. Please send messages, photos, letters, and memories.
To honor Barry's life, we want to plant a tree and install a memorial bench in Prospect Park, where we spent many hours rollerblading, cycling, playing frisbee, ice-skating, listening to music, and hanging out. To make a tax-free donation in his memory, please visit the Prospect Park website and check the box that says "Dedicate my donation in honor or in memory of someone."
Thank you to his dear friends from Bloomberg Businessweek and the many pit stops he's made around the world for all the love and support you've shown over the past year. Barry lived every moment to the fullest and was always ready for the next adventure. We will carry his memory with us every day for the rest of our lives.
Craig Hurst
Thanks, Barry
(In memory of Barry Maggs, 1964-2020)
For helping me get through Ryerson School of Journalism. You were one of my first and best friends there when we started in 1988, and also played matchmaker so I ended up with the woman of my dreams (it didn’t work out, but shit happens). Cheap beer by the glass at Nuts n Bolts and Brunswick House, pints with Tapper on Spadina, live music and pickled eggs at Grossman’s. We also drank so many bottles of The Singleton that I’m surprised that we graduated.
For joining me on road trips, especially to go skiing. But also that time in HK we took advantage of a Cathay Pacific flight deal for 2 to Bali for Valentine’s Day -- and left our girlfriends in HK! So many laughs and adventures, especially riding our motorcycles in the rain, and golfing in sunshine on that stunningly beautiful course (still my #1 day of golf). We did a lot of miles together, and I wish we could do many more.
For making my move to HK in 1996 so smooth, and even possible. I couldn’t have done it without your generous support: letting me stay for free in your flat for a month while you went to India, loaning me some cash (paid back!), introducing me to many amazing people that I’m pleased are still great friends, getting me in the Bamboo Hosers hockey pool (that I now admin), sharing HK tips and contacts plus interesting job leads, having a few spliffs, downing a great many pints at The Globe (the old one on Hollywood Rd across from Asia, Inc’s office), playing roller hockey, that hilarious night of the HK Handover to China when we all got soaking wet and sought refuge at the FCC wearing shorts and flip-flops, chatting over glasses of scotch in your office at HK Mag, the list goes on.
For listening, and laughing, a lot... like in the hot tub at your condo near Ryerson, on the ski chairlifts, in the cars, on the Lamma ferries. You could always calm me down, or lift me up, and especially make me laugh. You may look like Bill Murray, but your sense of humor is so unique (and superior to the 'other' BM).
For taking me roller-blading in Central Park, before we went zooming down Broadway (still on skates, we were a little high). Also for a lovely day at a cottage in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. We didn’t get bitten by ticks!
For taking me to that wonderful old pub in NYC, where as soon as we sat down a beautiful woman walked over, got on my lap and started kissing me. I thought you set me up, or it was some kinda retro-pub girlie bar! Then she whispered, “Pretend you know me, there’s a guy hassling me.” So we kept kissing, and then we all laughed so much once the guy left the bar. What a time we had in the Big Apple!
For your wonderful family, whom I promise to keep in better touch with and help in any way. Just like you did for me. Thanks, Barry. You’re one of a kind, and will always be my friend.
Love ya, man!
GLEN WATSON aka Craig Hurst
Lamma Island, HK
(In memory of Barry Maggs, 1964-2020)
For helping me get through Ryerson School of Journalism. You were one of my first and best friends there when we started in 1988, and also played matchmaker so I ended up with the woman of my dreams (it didn’t work out, but shit happens). Cheap beer by the glass at Nuts n Bolts and Brunswick House, pints with Tapper on Spadina, live music and pickled eggs at Grossman’s. We also drank so many bottles of The Singleton that I’m surprised that we graduated.
For joining me on road trips, especially to go skiing. But also that time in HK we took advantage of a Cathay Pacific flight deal for 2 to Bali for Valentine’s Day -- and left our girlfriends in HK! So many laughs and adventures, especially riding our motorcycles in the rain, and golfing in sunshine on that stunningly beautiful course (still my #1 day of golf). We did a lot of miles together, and I wish we could do many more.
For making my move to HK in 1996 so smooth, and even possible. I couldn’t have done it without your generous support: letting me stay for free in your flat for a month while you went to India, loaning me some cash (paid back!), introducing me to many amazing people that I’m pleased are still great friends, getting me in the Bamboo Hosers hockey pool (that I now admin), sharing HK tips and contacts plus interesting job leads, having a few spliffs, downing a great many pints at The Globe (the old one on Hollywood Rd across from Asia, Inc’s office), playing roller hockey, that hilarious night of the HK Handover to China when we all got soaking wet and sought refuge at the FCC wearing shorts and flip-flops, chatting over glasses of scotch in your office at HK Mag, the list goes on.
For listening, and laughing, a lot... like in the hot tub at your condo near Ryerson, on the ski chairlifts, in the cars, on the Lamma ferries. You could always calm me down, or lift me up, and especially make me laugh. You may look like Bill Murray, but your sense of humor is so unique (and superior to the 'other' BM).
For taking me roller-blading in Central Park, before we went zooming down Broadway (still on skates, we were a little high). Also for a lovely day at a cottage in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. We didn’t get bitten by ticks!
For taking me to that wonderful old pub in NYC, where as soon as we sat down a beautiful woman walked over, got on my lap and started kissing me. I thought you set me up, or it was some kinda retro-pub girlie bar! Then she whispered, “Pretend you know me, there’s a guy hassling me.” So we kept kissing, and then we all laughed so much once the guy left the bar. What a time we had in the Big Apple!
For your wonderful family, whom I promise to keep in better touch with and help in any way. Just like you did for me. Thanks, Barry. You’re one of a kind, and will always be my friend.
Love ya, man!
GLEN WATSON aka Craig Hurst
Lamma Island, HK
Elliott Maggs
Barry was a good man. We were roommates for a few years from 2000-2018 and he showed me what it meant to be an empathetic, goofy, genuine father. I've found myself reconnecting with him with his old record collection, his book (unpublished and phenomenally written), and our old scorecards from Dyker. the anniversary of his death recently happened and - some crying I've found myself looking back on him and smiling. Also seeing the first pic made me remember how horribly he cut our hair as children.
Alethea Black
I worked with Barry for many years at BusinessWeek, where his sense of humor and calm energy kept us all afloat. He was always so ... relaxed. Like an enlightened person might be relaxed. A fellow colleague watched him give the little kids a bath after eating dinner at their house one night, and said: yeah the kids were screaming and splashing and then one of them punched him in the face (oops), and Barry just laughed his way through it all.
I did a search today to see if anyone had done a GoFundMe for the family, the way they sometimes do when one of the breadwinners passes away before the kids have been put through college, but found this instead. If anyone ever does a GoFundMe, please alert me!
I'm a writer in addition to a proofreader, and in my "BusinessWeek Years" novel, I gave the girl the last name Maggs, in his honor.
PS He reminded me more of Norm Macdonald than Bill Murray.
I did a search today to see if anyone had done a GoFundMe for the family, the way they sometimes do when one of the breadwinners passes away before the kids have been put through college, but found this instead. If anyone ever does a GoFundMe, please alert me!
I'm a writer in addition to a proofreader, and in my "BusinessWeek Years" novel, I gave the girl the last name Maggs, in his honor.
PS He reminded me more of Norm Macdonald than Bill Murray.
Nevin Johnson
I remember meeting Barry in high school. We played football together. Went to the same parties and hung around with the same people. I will always remember Barry for shuffling into the gym in the morning to play basketball. I remember once we went on a double date. Down town oshawa.
One of the pictures in this post was classic Barry at a party holding a beer.
I can't believe so much time has passed, as it seems like just yesterday we were all in the gym, playing basketball.
RIP my old friend. To young
One of the pictures in this post was classic Barry at a party holding a beer.
I can't believe so much time has passed, as it seems like just yesterday we were all in the gym, playing basketball.
RIP my old friend. To young
Larry Demings
I attended public school in Oshawa with Barry until he moved away. We were very good friends as kids. Every so often I’ve checked Facebook for him over the past 5 or 6 years to no avail as I did again tonight. I decided to use google tonight and found this post. This is heartbreaking.
Larry Demings
Larry Demings
Andy Morrissey
Barry and I shared a couple of apartments in Toronto during our Ryerson years. I still tell the stories about how we made it work when we were sharing a basically open apartment. We had no privacy.
We spent a night peering down on the streets at Gerard and Jarvis during a massive power outage, and I'll never forget Barry's confidence about dropping into the black abyss over a peaked roof on the apartment roof.
We wandered into the Keyhole Tavern and drank nickel drafts with the homeless guys who frequented the place.
We skied at Ellicottville, NY, and had the adventure of a lifetime skiing in Quebec, along with Glen Watson and Don Anderson. It was a college trip complete with too much beer, a failed engine generator and proximity near a Hells Angel's house.
My then-girlfriend (now my wife and mother of our son) still talk about Barry and his fantastic sense of humour and their fondness for racing to see who could get to the Jacuzzi tub in our apartment to the cut the other one off.
He taught me a lifetime of life lessons.
I hate to hear that he's gone.
We spent a night peering down on the streets at Gerard and Jarvis during a massive power outage, and I'll never forget Barry's confidence about dropping into the black abyss over a peaked roof on the apartment roof.
We wandered into the Keyhole Tavern and drank nickel drafts with the homeless guys who frequented the place.
We skied at Ellicottville, NY, and had the adventure of a lifetime skiing in Quebec, along with Glen Watson and Don Anderson. It was a college trip complete with too much beer, a failed engine generator and proximity near a Hells Angel's house.
My then-girlfriend (now my wife and mother of our son) still talk about Barry and his fantastic sense of humour and their fondness for racing to see who could get to the Jacuzzi tub in our apartment to the cut the other one off.
He taught me a lifetime of life lessons.
I hate to hear that he's gone.