Gene Barrett

September 21, 2008

Delta 1961 – 1962

Eugene (Gene) Barrett, a retired school administrator with the Carteret Public Schools, died suddenly on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2008, at home. Mr. Barrett was born in Newark, N.J., and lived in Elizabeth, N.J., for more than 40 years. He was a graduate of St. Mary of the Assumption High School on South Broad Street and went on to earn both his bachelor of arts degree and his master’s degree from Newark State College (Kean University). Gene Barrett began his teaching career in 1966 as a sixth-grade teacher at the Columbus School in Carteret, N.J., In 1971, he was appointed director of ancillary services with the same school district. In this capacity, he oversaw the operations of the Title I, Bilingual Education, English as a Second Language, Technology and Human Relations departments.

He became a well-known figure in Washington, D.C., often meeting with legislators to ensure the best possible educational opportunities for all of the students in his school district. The Carteret Public Schools secured much additional funding as the result of grants that he researched and prepared.

Mr. Barrett also served as president of the State and Federal Administrators Association and was a member of the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association (NJPSA).

In 1991, Gene Barrett was appointed vice principal of Carteret High School and, in 2001, he became the school’s principal. He loved working with high school students and was a volunteer basketball coach.

Every Memorial Day, Mr. Barrett would meet his students at an area cemetery and help them place a flag on the graves of all of the fallen soldiers.

In 2004, Mr. Barrett was named principal of Carteret Middle School and again took great joy in his job and especially in working with his students and his staff. Mr. Barrett was active in his community.

He was the owner of Dr. Jekyll’s Pub in Elizabeth for 20 years and earned a reputation as a good listener and a great person to go to for counsel and advice. He was a member of the Elizabeth Midtown Merchants Association. He also enjoyed being a member of Elizabeth’s bowling and dart leagues. He would make calls and offer rides to his teammates to ensure that there would always be enough players.

He was also active in the Linden Elks Club and the Sigma Beth Tau Fraternity.

He served as a coach with the Elmora Little League. Gene Barrett will always be remembered as a lifelong fan of the New York Yankees and Giants. He constantly impressed everyone with his recall of sports trivia…right down to the smallest details about all of the players, past and present, on his favorite teams. Eugene Barrett was a man of few words, humble and never one to seek out praise or recognition for all that he did for others.

He was, most importantly, a loving, caring and devoted family man. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Jennifer Conte Barrett; his children, Jennifer Jean Barrett and Eugene A. Barrett Jr.; one grandchild, Morgan Santina Barrett; his brothers, Richard J. Barrett Jr. and Joseph B. Barrett. Gene was entombed at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Newark, N.J.

Remembrance from Paul Di Corcia:

I started at Newark State College in 1961, after completing 3 years in the U.S. Army as a Paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division, and a year working in a factory in Kenilworth, where I had grown up.

College was not on any of my “To Do Lists”, and I felt a “bit out of place”. The typical freshman was 17 or 18 years of age, and I was 21. At the tender age of 21, I was considered the “old man”. So be it. I was working several jobs, and engaged to be married. I did manage to meet a great group of guys that first year including, JJ Dowling, Dave Rowlands, Jerry Sica, Kevin Tucker & Rich Melvin. I considered them all very special then, and still do over 50 years later.

When Sophomore year came along, the above group was all excited about pledging a fraternity. I had no room in my busy schedule for such plans. But, along came Carl Marinelli, and I began to at least consider it. When the time came to decide, I made it quite clear to the above named group of friends that I would only consider joining Sigma Beta Tau. That year, we became more than friends, we became brothers.

Jim Hynes was our President, and Carl Marinelli our Pledgemaster, those two remain very special in my heart and mind.

But there was one other brother, who from day one was exceedingly special for me, and his name was Gene Barrett. Gene was in his Junior year, and from the first time that we met, he grinned from ear to ear, and loudly proclaimed, “BROTHER PAUL, how are you?”  I was somewhat taken aback and yet answered him, “Brother Gene, I’m doing well.”  For that first year, he was the only person I called” Brother”.

From 1962 until his very sudden death in 2008, there was never a time when we met, that we didn’t simultaneously greet one another with a very loud, “BROTHER GENE HOW ARE YOU –  BROTHER PAUL HOW ARE YOU?”

There was never a time when I called and asked for his help, that he didn’t immediately say, “You know I’d help you anytime”.  His answer was always … YES!

He, more than anyone, taught me how to embrace the brotherhood of Sigma Beta Tau.