Barry Lee Eckstein of Wellsville, NY (formerly of Alfred, NY) passed away peacefully at Jones Memorial Hospital in Wellsville, NY.
Barry was born on October 10, 1950, in Wheeling, WV, to Eva (Katz) and Alex Eckstein. He grew up in Fair Lawn, NJ, alongside his older sister Barbara.
As a child, Barry developed lifelong passions for cars, music and spending time with his best friend, Shelby Asch. He enjoyed many happy summers at Lake Rickabear in northern New Jersey with friends and family, including his beloved Aunt Irene and Uncle Irv. Some of his fondest memories were made with his maternal cousins in Virginia—playing board games, getting into mischief and gathering around the table with Uncle Mo and Aunt Bess and their children Judy, Susan, Ellen and Louis, especially during Passover and other holidays. He often shared stories of youthful adventures, including a memorable (and slightly infamous) incident dropping water balloons from a railroad crossing in Fair Lawn, which ended with a visit from the local police.
After graduating from Fair Lawn High School in 1968, Barry attended Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY, where he studied industrial design and photography. His artistic talents were nurtured early on by his parents—his mother Eva, a painter, and his father Alex, who maintained a woodshop and home darkroom. Barry’s creative spirit was evident in his sculptural car designs and striking still-life photography.
Following his time at Pratt, Barry met the mother of his children, Sandy, and settled in New City, NY, where they raised their two daughters Laura Eckstein Jones and Rachel Mulgrew. Family life was filled with memorable traditions and simple joys—Sunday mornings with bagel spreads around the table, classical music playing in the background and evenings spent together watching movies or Saturday Night Live reruns with bowls of popcorn. They also shared bigger adventures, including an epic road trip from San Francisco to San Diego with many exciting stops along the way, including the Mystery Spot in Santa Cruz. Barry was known for his love of grilling, spending Sundays on the deck making his famous barbecue chicken, hamburgers and hot dogs. Music remained a constant in his life, and he shared that passion with his daughters—playing records in the basement and introducing them to favorites such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan. He also enjoyed listening to artists such as The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Radiohead.
Barry’s passion for photography led to a long and fulfilling career at Fuji Film, where he worked for many years.
In 2014, Barry moved to Alfred, NY, to be closer to his sister and her family. He became an active member of the community, serving as Secretary of the Alfred Village Zoning Board. Embracing life in western NY, he famously switched his football allegiance from the New York Giants to the Buffalo Bills—though he remained a devoted New York Yankees fan despite his friends’ attempts to convert him to the Toronto Blue Jays.
In his later years, Barry lived a quieter life in Alfred, NY, enjoying local events such as the MostArts Festival, community performances and time with family and friends. He appreciated the close-knit nature of the village and the connections he made there. Though he faced serious health challenges, he did so with resilience. His family is deeply grateful to the staff at Highland Park Rehabilitation and Nursing Center for their compassionate care in his final days and finds comfort in knowing he is now at peace.
Barry is survived by the mother of his children Sandy Eckstein (Dell); his daughters Laura (Michael) Jones of Los Angeles, CA and Rachel (John) Mulgrew and grandson Brody Mulgrew of New City, NY; his sister Barbara Greil (Larry) of Alfred, NY; his nephew Rob Greil and stepson Asher of West Henrietta, NY; his niece Maddie Greil and fiancé Kevin Kieselbach of Salt Lake City, UT and many cousins across the country.
At Barry’s request there will be no calling hours. Private graveside services will be held at Alfred-Rural Cemetery at the convenience of the family.
Funeral arrangements are in care of the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY
In lieu of flowers, donations in Barry’s honor may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.
To leave an online condolence or share a memory, visit www.dagonfuneralhome.com
