Obituary:
Barry Annino, dedicated father, husband and passionate community developer, passed away on February 27, 2018, in Dallas, Texas, surrounded by his loving family.
Barry was born on March 22, 1956, at Fort Worth’s Carswell Airforce Base to Joe Annino and Helen Vernia. After graduating from Arlington High School in 1974, Barry attended the University of the Americas in Puebla, Mexico, where he developed a love for the country and its culture. After returning to Texas and earning his Bachelor of Education from the University of Texas at Arlington, Barry completed a Master of Education in Sports Psychology from the University of North Texas.
Upon graduating from UNT, Barry embarked on a career in tennis, forming many friendships on the courts of D/FW-area tennis clubs, where he ultimately met his wife, Debora.
Barry married Debora Reed on September 19, 1992, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and thus began their family affair with the country and its people. After having their daughter, Lena, the family began spending their summers in San Miguel de Allende. Much later, their affection for the town and its people gave birth to a foundation that Barry launched to improve the well-being of the area’s indigenous communities.
Barry first discovered a passion for community development while working with The Delphi Group, where he spent a number of years in commercial real estate. He later became president of the Deep Ellum Foundation and director of the Deep Ellum Public Improvement District, where he was instrumental in the revitalizing the spirit of one of Dallas’ most beloved and eclectic communities. Barry’s vision and advocacy helped give rise to some of the area’s most iconic features, including artist Brad Oldham’s “Traveling Man” sculpture, the Deep Ellum arts and film festivals, and “Bark Park Central,” the city’s first dog park, a project that Barry dedicated to his special four-legged friend, Delilah.
Barry also led the University Crossing Public Improvement District at North Central Expressway and Mockingbird Lane and most recently served as the executive director of the Vickery Midtown Public Improvement District, an area that has been home to refugees and new immigrants from around the world for decades.
Barry’s longtime vision was to celebrate the diversity and culture of the residents while bolstering opportunities for economic growth maintaining the soul of the people and history of this one time turn of the century town. Upon Barry’s diagnosis of a rare form of liver bile duct cancer called cholangiocarcinoma in March of 2016, his vision found new purpose. Turning his attention back toward San Miguel de Allende, he and Debora formed a nonprofit called “Little Things Matter,” which provides resource support for projects that lead to small-scale impact, generating opportunity for those aspiring to improve quality of life for themselves and others.
Barry believed that empowering people in Mexico’s under-served communities was a way to give back to the region that had given him and his family so much joy over the years. He spent the last two years of his life wholeheartedly pursuing this calling, along with his wife, his daughter, and the countless friends, both old and new, whom he inspired along the way.
“Your legacy begins today,” Barry’s pastor Dr. Gary Brandenburg told him when he learned the news of his condition. Those four words radically changed the lens through which Barry viewed his disheartening prognosis, and birthed within him a new faith to live out his mission with purpose, depth, and authenticity.
With a new mission statement, Barry purposefully lived out the rest of his days–inspiring, encouraging and generously sharing love both in word and deed with his many friends, colleagues and especially with his wife and cherished daughter.
On Tuesday, January 30, Barry was baptized by Dr. Brandenburg, the pastor who will officiate his funeral. At his baptism, Barry said, “It’s still hard to believe it’s the end, but maybe it’s the beginning.”
Barry is preceded in death by his mother, Helen Vernia-Smith, and step-father Bobby Smith. He is survived by his wife, Debora Annino, daughter, Lena Annino, father, Joe Annino of La Jolla, California, father-in-law & mother-in-law, Foster & Judy Reed of Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, sister-in-law, Rhonda Blessing and husband, John, nephew, Josh McClendon, niece, Brooke Moorman and husband, Wes, and great-nephew, Wesley Henderson, and great-niece Lily McClendon.
Barry will be laid to rest in a private family burial at Restland Memorial Park. A public memorial service will be held Friday, March 9, 2018, at 3:00 p.m. at Fellowship Bible Church Dallas at 9330 North Central Expressway, Dallas, Texas 75231. For more information, call 214-739-3881.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Little Things Matter at
https://womensnpa.givingfuel.com/little-things-matter
The family of Barry Annino wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Andrew Scott Paulson of Texas Oncology at Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center and Faith Presbyterian Hospice.
