In remembrance, Barry Busch, leader of PA4MMJ

[dOc]

Well folks it's with deep regret that I inform you that Barry Busch, the head of the Pennsylvanians for Medical Marijuana campaign and PhillyNORML Board Member, has passed away.  I am not sure what the cause as of yet but I'm sure it was due to complications brought on by his living with AIDS.  He was the inspiration and driving force behind the local medical movement and will be remembered dearly. He passed away Wed July 11th at 5:30pm with a friend  (Ralph) and his daughter Nichole at his bedside holding his hand. The PA4MMJ campaign will continue in his honor. 

Even though Barry has been cremated his family will hold a memorial service in Brookhaven on Sunday evening July 22nd at The Bateman Funeral Home.  His obituary will be published in the Daily Times.

His daughter Nichole asks that any one who wants to donate to please send those donations in Barry's name to ACT-UP Philly or Bread & Roses Community Fund
www.critpath.org/actup
www.breadrosesfund.org/

Nikole Harris can be reached at (610) 490-1795

[Cannabis_Rx]

WoW, I just seen this.... I'm blown away. My condolences to the family. What a loss.

[Any Other Illness]

Barry did a lot for the cause of medical marijuana--or medijuana, to use his favored term, in Pennsylvania.  He knew where every state legislator stood on the issue.  I don't know who can pick up where he left off. 

I recall Barry saying that he had never been out of the state of Pennsylvania.  He had recently expressed an interest in visiting California, to see how the dispensary system works here.  I was happy to invite him.

When we saw Barry in the hospital last week, the interns were making plans to discharge him from the hospital.  The loss is a great shock.   I'm glad we had the chance to see him that last time. 

If anyone finds an obituary, please post it here.

We will miss you Barry!

[SirTAL]

My condolences to the Busch family and friends.

This is the reason the drug war drags on and also is the reason why the government is a champion of the stonewalling tactic of divert, distract, and delay.  Hoping to outlast their naysayers.  I hope all members of phily norml will be emboldened with the impact that Barry Busch has made in Pennsylvania and I hope all our members will step up and carry on the fight for what Barry believed to be worth fighting for.  Loosing Barry Busch is not just a loss for his friends family and members of philly Norml.  Who knows how many people in Pennsylvania have mourning familes and friends because they weren't given safe access to medical marijuana.  The loss of Barry Busch is a tragedy, but it is also a reminder that there are other people out there that need help.
I am pretty busy with 2 jobs and soon to be starting school on top of that but if anyone at philly norml needs any help getting things organized that can be done without making a several hour trip to philly feel free to contact me just message me for my email.

[1puffer]

Barry Edward Busch
(October 2, 1948 - July 11, 2007)

http://www.webfh.com/fh/print.cfm?type=obituary&o_id=134961&fh_id=10404&s_id=2FC6ECDD2AC730AAF4821DD050C396FC

Barry Edward Busch, 58, passed away July 11, 2007 at Crozer Chester Medical Center, Upland, Pa. Born in Chester he was a long term resident of Brookhaven, Pa, and Upland, Pa. He was a graduate of Sun Valley High School in 1966, also a paralegal certification from Widner. He was a retired political activist, and a former employee of Pathmark, Aldan Rug Mill, and a magizine editor. A member of Keystone Alliance, Act-Up Foundation, and Aids Awareness Group. He was instrumental in drafting the countries first work place "Right to Know Law. Founder of American Spirit, and a pioneer in the social justice movement. A veteran of the Army Reserve. Son of the late W. Edward Busch and Enidina Jean Trosino Busch. Father of Nikole S. Harris of Wallingford, Adrienne C. Busch of Wallingford, Pa. Brother of Alan N. Busch. Grandmother of 3. A celebration of life will take place Sunday 7:00 p.m. t0 9:00 p.m. July 22, 2007 at the Bateman Funeral Home 4220 Edgmont Ave., brookhaven, Pa. 19015. Interment private. Donation: Act Up Philadelphia at www.critpath/actup.org or www.breadroses.org

[SirTAL]

You know what?

Would it be a bad idea to organize something in remembrance of Barry Busch?

I have never met the man but from what i have read he seems to have put a lot of hard work and effort into a few things he really cared about.  Maybe we could organize something maybe even as small as a letter writing campaign to advocate for one or all of the issues that barry put so much effort into.

Its a special and rare thing when someone like Barry will put others before himself and it is my opinion that his hard work should be honored with a collective effort to stoke the fire that Barry Busch contributed to.

There aren't too many decent people left in my experience so lets pay homage to those we have lost.
I would hope that we can all agree we can sacrifice at least a few minutes out of a single day of our lives to write a letter or two in honor of Barry Busch whom has done so much for all of us without us even asking.

We might sneek a recreational bowl in every here and there but lets be honest, we are all people and we are all in a struggle for life whether we know it or not, we are in it together and our efforts can be multiplied by a little bit of organization so lets dedicate a little bit of time for something greater than any single person.

S.TAL

BTW i would like to clarify that i got nothin against donating money but i don't feel that quite relays the urgency that a personal message can.  In the political world there might be more emphasis on money but these days the value of money does not compare with the value of personal effort and true beliefs.

[dOc]

Right on man, I agree wholeheartedly and have even tossed around some ideas with Derek on just this.  A Barry Busch memorial of some sorts. Indeed the man deserves at least that.

[Cannabis_Rx]

A bump for Barry!