Departments
|
Week of 8 January 1999 |
Vol. II, No. 18 |
Obituary
Donald Barker, longtime director of internal audit at Boston University and godfather of BU rugby, died on December 25 at the age of 84.
Barker became the University's first internal auditor in 1958 and retired in 1979. Always a dapper figure, he modeled professionally after retiring.
In the mid-70s he began watching the pickup games of the University's rugby team. "They were a very disparate group," he later recalled, "smoking and drinking on the field. Some wore sneakers, some cleats; others were barefoot."
He decided that appearances notwithstanding, they were gentlemen -- but in need of discipline and self-esteem -- so he began giving receptions in their honor, jackets and ties required. The team gained a coach and uniforms and began competing. When it received its first bid to a national competition, in New Orleans, Barker, its number one fan, paid most of the travel expenses.
He gave the players personal and academic advice and attended their games and parties. "But they know I'm not a pal," he said. "I'm a father figure."
In May 1998, former rugby players came from around the country to the ceremony at which Barker was made a member of BU's Scarlet Key Honor Society, a recognition usually reserved for undergraduates.
Barker was born in Boston and educated at Boston Latin School and Brookline High. He earned a B.S. at SMG in 1937, and an I.A. and MBA, in 1942 and 1947 respectively, at Harvard. He served in World War II with General George Patton.
A memorial service will be held at Marsh Chapel.
Memorial gifts may be made to the Donald Barker Endowment Fund for Hockey at Boston University, 599 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215.