Joseph Barrett

Joseph Leonard Barrett, 67, passed away in the early hours of October 28 with his daughter and son-in-law by his side. Born in Syracuse three months after his family immigrated from Ireland, Joe was proud of his heritage and never missed a chance to tell a joke in the Irish brogue he picked up from his parents, Mary and Martin.

For nearly three decades, Joe served as a police officer in Delhi, NY, earning the nickname “Father Barrett” for the way he could put people at their ease and secure confessions. Joe liked what he did so much that in addition to his main position as an officer with the University Police Department of SUNY Delhi, he worked with the Delhi and Walton Village PDs, was a Delaware County Bailiff, a DWI instructor, and, from 2002-2010, he served as a tactical and pistol instructor with the 204th Engineer Battalion of the Army National Guard.

In more recent years, Joe enjoyed spending time with his son and youngest grandchildren, and particularly loved watching football games with his granddaughter, who was named after him. He had a dark sense of humor and enjoyed a good prank, the most memorable being the time he dressed up as Pennywise the Clown and waited for his children to come home from school so he could jump out and ask them, in a flawless impersonation, if they wanted a balloon. Generous to the very end, Joe was the kind of guy who would buy the pregnant cashier at his local gas station bags of baby things and send the ICU seven cheesecakes to thank them for their care.

Joe is survived by his son, Brendan Martin; grandchildren Ethan Connor (20), Negan Liam (6), and Moira Josephine (4); ex-wife Mary Purvis Barrett; and his daughter, EC, and her spouse, Mike Gabello.

A memorial mass will be held on December 6th at 2pm at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 360 Conklin Ave Binghamton, NY. Please express condolences at www.SavageFS.com.  Arrangements entrusted to SAVAGE-DeMarco Funeral Service in Binghamton, NY.

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