Barry Karp

Born in Brooklyn, NY on July 14, 1943

Departed on June 10, 2020 and resided in Denver, CO

Barry J. Karp passed away unexpectedly from natural causes on Wednesday, June 10th, 2020 (Sivan 18, 5780), in his favorite place, his backyard in Denver. Barry was born July 14th, 1943 at Brooklyn Jewish Hospital in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. At 12, Barry's family moved to Maspeth, Queens, where he lived until joining the U.S. Army in 1965. He spent his two-year tour of duty in Hawaii working in procurement. Upon returning to New York, Barry joined the N.Y.P.D. He was a police officer on the Upper West Side of Manhattan from 1967-1976. Barry started a general contracting business, BAJ Construction, in 1976. In 1979, Barry and his first wife, Judy Karp, moved to Denver to be closer to the mountains, where they enjoyed skiing. In Colorado, Barry learned to fish at Stanley Lake, and it became a decades-long passion. Always active, he also earned his 5th degree blackbelt in Taekwondo.

Barry became actively involved in the Denver Jewish community shortly before the birth of his daughter, Jenny Karp, in 1986. In honor of Jenny's birth, Barry designed and dedicated one of the tallest kosher menorahs in the world, which stood at the corner of Dahlia and Alameda until the menorah was moved to Bais Menachem in 2019. Barry was also a cofounder of the Western Center for Russian Jewry on Denver's East Side and served for a time as the congregation's president.

In September 2008, Barry married Donna (Zhavah) Grace. Together they enjoyed fixing up their home and backyard oasis as well as traveling around the Mountain States region and visiting family across the country. Barry was an avid reader and life-long learner. He studied philosophies of the world and had an appreciation and love of any religion - most of all, Judaism. Barry was a mentor to people across all walks of life and was respected for his realistic and frequently humorous perspective on life. Although Barry retired in 2003 and slowed down with age, he still tackled every project with 150 percent of his energy.

Barry was preceded in death by his parents Louis and Rosalyn Karp and brother Steven of New York. He is survived by his wife, Zhavah Grace, daughter Jenny (Don John Kulish) of Arvada, CO, step-daughter Ariana Kiken of San Diego, sister Irene Karp (James Rich) of Jericho, N.Y., nieces Jodi Kunz (Greg Kunz) and Michelle Melville (Lou Melville) of Plainview, N.Y., and friend Judy Karp of Denver.

Barry had a larger-than-life personality and will be missed by his family and friends.