Bill (William J.) Barrett
Bill (William J.) Barrett died on February 3, 2022. He was 69. Born to William L. and Alice (Smith) Barrett, he was raised in Clifton, New Jersey, graduating from Neumann Preparatory School in 1970. He came to love the ocean during the summers he spent with his family on the Jersey shore. With his family, he volunteered at Camp Alexander, run by Catholic Charities’ Department for Persons with Disabilities. An avid learner, he read the encyclopedia for fun. The first in his family to attend college, Bill earned a BA in Psychology from St. Meinrad College in 1974.
After graduation, Bill joined the Franciscans (OFM). Long fascinated by photography, he began his work as a documentary photographer and photography teacher after a year’s study at The New School. Inspired by St. Francis’s example of encountering Jesus in the poor, Bill volunteered with the New York Catholic Worker while its founder, Dorothy Day, was still alive. She commented that Bill was the only photographer who didn’t make her nervous. Bill’s photos are featured in many books about Day and the Catholic Worker. Bill moved to Philadelphia at the request of friars establishing the St. Francis Inn, a Franciscan Catholic Worker-like community.
Having learned Spanish because of a challenge from Dorothy Day, Bill made multiple trips to the Salvadoran refugee camps in Honduras during the 1980s at the behest of several non-governmental organizations. His photographs bore witness to the human costs of the Salvadoran civil war and the dignity of displaced persons. Inspired by the pacifism of St. Francis, Bill was involved in efforts to end the wars in Central America, as well as in the anti-nuclear movement.
In 1986, Bill requested release from his Franciscan vows. He began to teach photography full-time at Parsons School of Design, eventually becoming the assistant chair of its photography department. He taught briefly in Germany and in the Colomoncagua refugee camp in Honduras. He also spent five summers teaching in Parsons’ Paris program. In 1991, Bill earned an MA in Media Studies from The New School.
Bill met his spouse, Laurel Hayes, through the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), for which they both had worked. They married in 1991. For several years, Bill was a long-distance runner, running the New York Marathon and the Marine Corps Marathon (which he ran with the War Resisters League team). He served on WRL’s national board.
In 1994, Bill was offered a faculty position at Webster University, and he and Laurel moved to St. Louis. At Webster, Bill was a photography professor; the May Gallery director; an Institute for Human Rights and Humanitarian Studies faculty fellow; and, for four years, chair of the Department of Electronic and Photographic Media. Bill also taught first-year seminars; served on committees across the university; taught for a term at Webster’s Geneva campus; traveled under university auspices to the U.S.-Mexico border, Mexico, Cuba, and El Salvador; regularly attended French and Spanish conversation groups; and maintained several blogs, including one that featured St. Louis gallery openings. A perennial New Yorker, Bill returned to Manhattan most years for a week, first as a guest lecturer at Parsons, and then with groups of Webster students. Bill was active in several professional organizations, and past president of the Photographic Imaging Educators Association.
Bill’s awards included the Kemper and the Emerson Awards for Excellence in Teaching and the Messing International Research Award (which he used to visit European libraries and cameras obscura to explore the pre-history of photography). He later made images around campus in a room-sized portable camera obscura. Bill’s fascination with American utopian communities led to a first-year seminar on the topic and a multi-year project photographing every Shaker site open to the public.
Upon moving to St. Louis, Bill served for several years on the program committee of the area AFSC office. He was a long-time member of St. Cronan Church, where he was a lector, the coordinator of Eucharistic bread bakers, and a member of a small spiritual group. Devoted to his family, he was often seen around town with his son Gavin in tow. Although he professed not to like animals, Bill befriended the cats Laurel and Gavin rescued. An Eagle Scout who loathed camping, Bill nonetheless accompanied Gavin on many Boy Scout camping trips. Annual summer road trips to visit far-flung family prompted Bill to begin photographing eroded landscapes in the national parks. An enthusiastic cook, he was known for his hummus (a staple at May Gallery openings). His blog, “Not Yet a Cookbook,” was an ongoing endeavor.
Bill is survived by his spouse, Laurel Hayes; his son, Gavin Barrett-Hayes; his siblings Tom (Pat), Cindy Rose (Dave), and Dave; extended family; his Franciscan brothers, who remained important to him; and many friends, colleagues, and students. The Webster University memorial service will be at 3 PM on Friday, April 1, in the Winifred Moore Auditorium in Webster Hall. The funeral will take place at 11 AM on Saturday, April 2, at St. Cronan Church, 1202 S. Boyle Avenue, St. Louis. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Catholic Worker, 36 East 1st St., NY, NY 10003, would be appreciated.
What an interesting life. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to know him better.
Sending love
What an incredible person. I didn’t know he had done so much global work, Paris, Germany, Central America and places within the States. He is missed by so many whose lives he touched.
Lots of love to your family
Bill was a great man indeed
Torrie
Parsons School if Design 88
Sad reading this and realizing how much more there was to learn from him and about him. Missed conversations. Life is really too short. (I always regretted the demise of our French table, which was a great opportunity to get one side of Bill).
My condolences to Laurel and Gavin and to all of his extended family
What a beautiful soul! He was such a kind giving person. I loved learning from Bill at Webster and remaining friends for the years after. He will be missed but what a mark he made in this world!
Bill was a very special person to me, as I worked at Webster U. His May Gallery openings-hummus & all around social friendliness were a highlight at 5pm on a Friday.
Bill will be missed, but absolutely remembered. And, Laurel I miss our lunchtime meditations. You too are a sweet gem. My sincere condolences to you and Gavin.
Bill was a brother, a friend, and an inspiration.
I met Bill when he joined the Photography department at Parsons and I worked in the Dean’s Office. He was the one of the most generous, curious, and encouraging people I’ve ever met. Bill’s life experiences were impressive and he was the rare person who not only spoke to against war and oppression, but took action. I’ll never forget the time he took us back stage to meet his friend, musician and anti-war activist Bruce Cockburn. Bill was also gentle and funny and although it’s been many years since we were in touch, I am honored we were friends. Bill, Laurel, I’m still sorry we arrived late to your beautiful wedding in Vermont. I regret not staying in touch. My condolences to you Laurel and Gavin, and to Bill’s family and friends.
Wow Bill – such a lovely person and such a please to know you at the catholic worker – you were amazing that as I was a resident atheist one of the people who made a journey from the UK to NY at aged 19 a safe one who learned so much from you.
Lauren – we have never met but I am so glad he met you and found love. My condolences to you and your wee boy. Lots of love to you both.
After knowing Bill for almost 25 years; he’s never changed! Always polite, persistent and willing! He will be truly missed. It has been a pleasure being in his midst. Webster University’s School of Communication and especially the May Gallery won’t be the same.
What an inspiration! So glad to learn all about Bill’s rich life. Laurel and Gavin, we hold you in our prayers.
I met Bill thru Christ House.
He and I lived at Holy Criss Friary, Bronx,NY followed by our novitiate in Brookline Ma ( but which included 8 weeks at the Franciscan Institute at St Bonas) where we made our simple profession of vows. We then separated, he to NJ and I to Holy Name College in DC… but we kept in touch.
While I knew of the Catholic Worker it was Bill who brought me to house in lower Manhattan where I met Dorothy Day!
Bill was many things to many people…and will b sorely missed!
He is now again with Dorothy Day… and I imagine Berrigan, Merton, Romero and … Mychal Judge. Fly high my friend!
All my love to Laurel n Gavin.
Love, your brother,
Michael
Dr Michael M Sheridan
Amsterdam NY
What a rich and interesting life he led! I’m so sorry he is gone too soon. My deepest sympathies to Laurel and Gavin.
I first met Bill when I was dating his sister Cindy, whom I’ve been married to for many years. Bill and I shared both personal and professional interests in photography. I came to know Bill (and later Laurel and Gavin) very well over the years and had the greatest respect for him as a friend and family member. During Bill’s battle with pancreatic cancer, I was diagnosed with a malignant PCNS lypmphoma in my brain. I began a grueling seven month regimen of chemotherapy. I would talk to Bill frequently and as a fellow ‘cancer warrior’ we had similar experiences. It was with much sorrow that we learned of Bill’s death just a couple days before I completed treatment for cancer in Denver. R.I.P. my dear Brother-In-Law. We miss you and you’ll always be in our thoughts and prayers.
Bill was one of the most dear, sensitive, brilliant, and generous humans I’ve had the good fortune to know. I am grateful for his years of friendship and support.
Bill was a wonderful man, friend, teacher. Always positive, always enthusiastic! You all know what I mean. What a big loss for me, his family and his Webster family. His life was full of good deeds. I know he will rest in peace.
Yesterday, 6 October, I visited the Friars’ section of St. Bonaventure cemetery looking for Bill’s plot because in the NY Catholic Worker article it notes he asked to be buried there. Close by is the grave site of Robert Lax, poet and friend of Thomas Merton at St. Bona’s in the early 1940’s. If it does turn out that Bill’s ashes are there with the Friars, I’ll be all the happier since my plot is awaiting my remains close by. Bill and I can recall our experiences in Central America during the 1980’s I look forward to it since I never met him in the flesh. R.I.P.