Bruce Atcheson Barber, 66, of Bardstown, Kentucky, formerly of Madison, husband of Nathalie Barber of Bardstown, Kentucky, and brother of Helen Bimmie Barber Herget of Branford, died on March 22 at his residence.  He was born on July 14, 1945 in Ossining, New York, son of the late Gerard G. Barber, formerly of Hartford, and Mary “Baba” Robinson Oosting, formerly of Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was the past business owner of Hood Laboratories and Healix Corporation, where he created various patents for these international product companies.  

Mr. Barber grew up mainly in Madison with his older sisters, Annie Barber Nyborg and Helen Bimmie Barber Herget, and his older brother, Rod Barber, where he enjoyed swimming and playing at the end of Park Avenue and at the Madison Beach Club along the shore of Long Island Sound.  He also learned his beginning sailing skills on his brother Rod’s sailfish, as they sailed from East Wharf to West Wharf Beaches and in and around Gull Rock and Tuxis Island.  

Mr. Barber completed his schooling in Bloomfield and West Hartford.  He married Ellen Conroy and they had a son, Morgan Barber, and a daughter, Kate Barber Shortelle, in Portland, Maine, and they moved to Duxbury, Massachusetts, where his children grew up and where he ran his businesses.  He later moved to Bardstown, Kentucky, where he married and lived with Nathalie Barber and her daughter, Amaelle Alami.

Besides his wife, he is survived by his son, Morgan Barber of Portland, Oregon; his daughter, Kate Barber Shortelle of Pembroke, Massachusetts; his stepdaughter, Amaelle Alami of Bardstown, Kentucky; his sisters, Annie Barber Nyborg of Ukiah, California and Helen Bimmie Barber Herget of Branford; his brother, Dr. Rod Barber of Louisville, Kentucky; and his granddaughter, Grace Shortelle of Pembroke, Massachusetts.

Cremation was chosen, with a private memorial service and burial to be held in Madison this summer in July.  Those who would like to attend should email Morgan Barber at morgansbarber@hotmail.com. The Barlow Funeral Home, Bardstown, Kentucky, is in charge of arrangements.