Barry Lavery

Barry Lavery, 72, passed away peacefully on August 22, 2017, in his Regent Square home, surrounded by his family after living courageously for 5 years with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.  He was born in Gary, Indiana on November 2, 1944, and is the son of the late Bernard “Bud” and Florence Foley Lavery. Beloved husband of Katyna, devoted father to Sarah (Dave) Lash of Aurora, Colorado, Kerri (Sean) Cline of Murrysville, and Maggie Lavery of Raleigh, North Carolina, grandfather of Rachel, Hailey, Aiden, Jenna, Jessa and Dyllen, brother of Bernard “Bud” (Judy) Lavery of Greer, South Carolina. Barry was on the teaching faculty at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh for 37 years, teaching photography for 32 years and serving as department director for 5 years. He devoted much of his life to environmental causes and the welfare of wildlife. An avid naturalist and bird expert, he served as a volunteer for 16 years rehabilitating wild animals at the Humane Animal Rescue Wildlife Center. He spent time in the West Desert in Utah studying ferruginous hawks. He also enjoyed hiking, canoeing, kayaking and outdoor sports. A gathering for family and friends will begin at 12:30 pm on Sunday, September 10, 2017 at SGI Buddhist Center, 2121 Noblestown Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15205.  Services will be held at 1:00 pm.  Arrangements by Strifflers of White Oak Cremation & Mortuary Services (Sue Striffler Galaski, Supervisor 412-678-6177).    Condolences may be made at www.strifflerfuneralhomes.com . Remembrances may be made in Barry’s name to: ALS Association, Western Pennsylvania Chapter, 416 Lincoln Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15209, info@cure4als.org .