Tribute to Richard Barry

5 December 1947 – 16 May 2022

Richard du Plessis Barry was first and foremost a pharmacist in mind, body and spirit – giving his life fully to his profession and to the service and care of his patients, and at all times acting in the interests of his colleagues in the pharmacy profession.

Richard qualified as a pharmacist at the University of Port Elizabeth, (now known as the Nelson Mandela University) in 1974. He owned a pharmacy in Port Elizabeth (now known as Gqeberha) and was also very involved in the Burns Unit at the Dora Nginza Hospital in Port Elizabeth where he assisted in making improvements to the facility.     

Thereafter he owned Selcourt Pharmacy in Springs, Gauteng, where he was fully committed to serving the community; when he sold Selcourt Pharmacy Richard practiced as a locum pharmacist and Responsible Pharmacist in some dispensaries,doing locums in community pharmacies and Clicks pharmacies in the Gauteng area. 

I’ll mention some of the many committees and organisations he served on for many years, and the activities he was involved with on a professional level, where he gave of himself and served with commitment and dedication:

1. On the SA Association of Community Pharmacists Southern Gauteng (SAACP SG) Branch Committee, where he was a past Chairman and was the Honorary Treasurer from 2014 until the time of his passing.
   He was a recipient of the Community Pharmacist Sector (CPS) (now known as SAACP) of the PSSA SG Branch's prestigious Jack Bloom Award in 2009for outstanding service to the Association 
2. A SAACP SG Branch representative on the SAACP National Executive Committee.
3. A Director on the Board of SARCDA Trade Exhibitions (Pty) Limited.
4. Alternate Director on Pharmacy Mutual, a company of the PSSA SG Branch, representing an investment made by SAACP SG Branch.
5. A SAACP SG representative on the PSSA SG Branch Committee.
6. A member of the USAP community pharmacies organisation.
7. He was involved, together with the late Johan Bothma (previous Executive Director of the CPS), and other pharmacists in the East Rand, when cell groups were formed to assist the pharmacists during the period when the doctors started dispensing. 
8. Richard was also involved in working in the community pharmacy drug abuse campaign as a Drug Wise Counselor. 

He passed though this life where our paths crossed, and we were fortunate to also share time and mutual life experiences. The friendship forged between us as colleagues and our association through our passion and service to our profession created a special bond between us. My mind and memories go back to hours of discussions, deliberations and actions taken to the benefit of our profession of pharmacy and the unstinting service rendered to our patients.

Richard was always a caring and loving family man who were very proud of him.

After his wife passed away, he was a devoted life partner to Ruth for many years. He met her in his pharmacy where she was a customer. Heartfelt condolences are extended to his family and friends.

I thank you Richard for the time shared with you, and we now greet you and salute you my colleague and friend in your passing, and you will always remain in our memories and thoughts.

Gary Kohn