Obituary of Jerome Jay Barnhart

Jerome Jay Barnhart (October 9, 1962-July 15, 2023)

The family and friends of Jerome Jay Barnhart will miss the guy who still held on to those old fashioned values of popping in for visits, and the love and pride he had for his family.

Jay (or Jay Squirrel) loved the Blue Jays, books, live rock concerts and The Rolling Stones (who he saw many times). He will be impatiently waiting for the band to reunite where he is now, and then will likely keep the concert-going streak alive…. Although I am sure Keith Richards will be awhile!

Some of his circles, especially in the area of history, historical societies and other local groups, may have known him as Jerome. He was a proud and passionate researcher, always on the hunt to gather interesting and important information about the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory and other neighbouring towns, villages and hamlets. It was common to see him in cemeteries cleaning headstones as he gathered the information that would become part of his extensive collection of research. There was not a lot he didn’t know when it came to the origins of the people and places in these parts, but he was always on the quest to learn more.

This man of endless trivia (and trivia championships), knowledge abound of local history and the largest love of rock music will be greatly missed by his sister Kathy (Tony) and his brothers Gord (Bonnie), Frank, Tim (Kelly) and Randy (Barb). He was predeceased by his parents Joan and Bob Barnhart, his wife Sandra, his brother Robert, half-brother Randy, sister-in-laws Nancy, Joann and brother-in-law Dale. He will also be dearly missed by his many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, great-great nieces and nephews, Sandra’s family (especially Nathan) and his friends.

There will be a private internment ceremony held at a later date.

The family asks that instead of flowers, donations can be made in Jay’s memory to the Tyendinaga Food Resource Centre, Kanhiote Library or a local historical society.