Winchester, NH- Barry Irving Hagg, of Winchester, formerly of Westminster, MA, died Saturday, May 21, in Cheshire Medical Center, after a brief illness.
Barry was born in Worcester, MA and was raised in Westminster, MA. He Graduated from Oakmont High School in 1969 and attended Mount Wachusett Community College.
He leaves siblings, Diane Paddock, Peter Hagg and his wife, Bonnie, and Jeffrey Hagg, all of Westminster; nieces, Melissa Paddock, Meredith Paddock Goc, Nichole Moreau, Elizabeth, Carly and Rebecca Hagg, and nephews, Eric Moreau and Dylan Hagg.
He was predeceased by parents, Doris and Irving Hagg.
To his loyal friends and family, Barry was a protector and confidante, a gentle giant who always listened and said the perfect thing. He was a calming force who brought much-needed peace to any strife.
He was proud to be a loving step-father, foster parent, friend, and pet parent to his beloved White Shepherd, Tammy.
Barry was a free spirit, living most of his life off the beaten path, which started with hitchhiking across the country (with a note to his family to let them know where he was), to communal living in the 1970’s, and then living off the grid with no running water in the 1980s.
Barry pursued various career interests, working as a crisis counselor at Luk, a machinist, and an environmental technician, among others. Outside of work, Barry enjoyed music and was an avid reader, which provided him with the knowledge to talk to anyone about almost any topic, from politics to the latest technology. He enjoyed cooking for himself, his friends and family.
“The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
To Barry, from your friends and family:
“I've seen fire and I've seen rain. I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end. I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend, but I always thought that I'd see you again.”
~ James Taylor
Your heart was big enough to embrace us all. You will be dearly missed.
Informal services will be held atop Mt. Wachusett (up Summit Road) at 11:00 am on Saturday, June 4, 2016. Wachusett Mountain State Reservation, 345 Mountain Rd., Princeton MA 01541.
In lieu of flowers, please call a dear friend or make someone smile in memory of Barry.
Mack Funeral Home, 91 Vernon St., Gardner, MA, is assisting the family with arrangements.
To sign the online guestbook, please visit www.mackfamilyfh.com