Joseph Barnard II, passed away peacefully on May 8th in Savannah, Georgia, with his family by his side.  The cause of death was complications from dementia and multiple myeloma.  Joe was 83.  

Joe was born and raised in Elizabeth, New Jersey and attended the Pingry School from kindergarten through high school, graduating in 1961.   A stellar athlete, he went on to Trinity College, where he was a three-sport athlete (football, swimming and lacrosse).  Joe was named to the 1965 All America lacrosse team his senior year and played in that year’s North/South game as a midfielder.  

The year before, Joe married the love of his life, Lynn (Ryerson) of Chatham, New Jersey, after the two finished their junior year.   Set up on a blind date in high school, Lynn and Joe were inseparable in a marriage that lasted a month shy of 62 years, certainly a love story for the ages. 

After graduating college, the couple began their adventure by moving to Honolulu, Hawaii, where they both taught school, Joe at Iolani and Lynn at Punahou.  He and Lynn explored the islands and learned to surf. 

Lynn and Joe returned to New Jersey to be closer to family after the birth of their first son, Andrew.  Joe took a job at his beloved Pingry School as a teacher and coach.   After his second son, Matthew, was born, Joe moved to a career in sales, guided by Lynn’s father Irv.  He took a job selling life insurance, a calling that allowed Joe to capitalize on his love of people and ability to develop deep relationships.  Joe worked for Penn Mutual and Northwest Mutual over the years in New York City and New Jersey.  Not coincidentally, his career in sales provided him with the freedom to set his own schedule, which typically included time for tennis, squash and golf. 

Lynn and Joe raised their family in Summit, New Jersey, where Joe loved to attend his sons’ various games and races.  As a member of Canoe Brook Country Club, Joe could frequently be found playing golf with friends or hitting balls on the range in his boat shoes without socks, something that never quite caught on at the Tour level.

After retiring, Lynn and Joe moved to the Landings on Skidaway Island in Savannah, Georgia, and also spent much time on Bald Head Island, North Carolina.  Joe loved his golf groups, breakfast clubs, and church community. Lynn and Joe also used their free time to visit their children and grandchildren, attending a multitude of games, graduations and events over the years. 

The fabric of Joe’s life was woven from the relationships he developed with family and friends.   Quick with a joke and with an outgoing nature, Joe collected friends and never let them go.  He loved staying in touch with his many friends from Pingry, Trinity, Summit and the Landings.  Even when he could no longer leave the house, Joe’s days were filled with laughter-filled phone calls with his various buddies.  Joe was also a huge fan of anything sweet, known for the fear he put into quarts of mocha chocolate chip ice cream, and for his ability to find hidden chocolate in any kitchen.   

Joe is survived by his wife, Lynn; his brother, William Lloyd, Jr. (Lucinda); his sons Andrew (Lendy) of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, and Matthew (Miriam) of Sea Girt, New Jersey; his sister in law Jean Ahrens; nephews Alexander, Will, and Cameron Barnard; nieces Nicole Barnard and Jennifer (Ahrens) Butler (and husband Chris and children Marc and Cate); and seven grandchildren-Elizabeth (and husband Nicholas), Andrew (and wife Danielle), Luke, Alexandra, Cole, Christian and Tate.   Joe was predeceased by his father, William Lloyd Barnard, mother Dorothy Larson Barnard, brother-in-law Jay Ahrens, nephew Judson Ahrens, and in-laws Irving and Patricia Ryerson. 

The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to the care team from Coastal Care and Hospice Savannah for their kindness, grace and support. 

A memorial service will be held at 2pm on May 16th, at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church on Skidaway Island, Savannah, Georgia, with a reception to follow at the Marshes.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, or St. Peter’s Episcopal Church on Skidaway Island, Savannah, Georgia.