Remembering Barry Paur
Our hearts are with Jewel Paur after she lost her husband, Barry, on Jan. 22. Barry, a longtime USA Dance member and a friend to many of us, passed away a day shy of his 86th birthday. Barry and Jewel (shown in this photo from one of our Covid-era dances) were married for 52 years.
Barry’s memorial service will be 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 5, at the Wyoming Chapel, 7171 Wyoming Blvd. NE, with a reception to follow. Because so many of us knew and loved Barry, we are reprinting his obituary in full:
Barry Paur Jan. 23, 1938 – Jan. 22, 2024
Barry Paur was born in New York City in 1938. He moved from Massachusetts to New Mexico in 2010. Barry served in the military in France and returned to the U.S. in 1959.
He was an electronics engineer for his entire career, starting at Raytheon and working in several consulting firms in the biomedical industry until he retired in 2010.
His greatest passions in life were his wife of 52 years, Jewel Paur, Karate, crossword puzzles, and Ballroom Dancing. He earned a 3rd Degree Black Belt in Uechi Ryu Karate after many years of study.
He studied ballroom dancing for over 25 years and earned many medals and trophies in local, national and world competitions. He took up ballet and tap during COVID to keep himself in shape and in practice — he even crafted a dance floor in his apartment because the carpet messed with his form.
He is survived by his wife, Jewel; his children, Ken, Karen, and Bonnie; his grandchildren, Stephen, Sarah, Tony, Daniel, Phoebe and Gracie; and his many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Barry will be missed by many and will always be remembered for being a kind and gentle soul, warmhearted — and, of course, one heck of a dancer.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that a donation be made to either St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Alzheimer’s Association.
