Barry Bridgestock has passed away.

[mrs-b]

I just received the latest update email from his daughter, and apparently Barry passed away last Sunday, only 5 months after his wife, Carol.

A terrible loss to the colored gem world.

 

[mrs-b]

I see @tara3056 has started a similar thread. Perhaps these can be collapsed into one.

 

[tara3056]

Sorry @mrs-b - we were typing them at the exact same time. I'm going to go copy-paste mine into here

 

[mrs-b]

Sorry @mrs-b - we were typing them at the exact same time. I'm going to go copy-paste mine into here

Thanks, @tara3056 - good idea.

 

[MamaBee]

I just received the latest update email from his daughter, and apparently Barry passed away last Sunday, only 5 months after his wife, Carol.

A terrible loss to the colored gem world.

That’s so sad...He was too young...

 

[tara3056]

Copied from my duplicate thread:

Many of you who subscribe to Barry's monthly ACS newsletters will have received the news that his daughter, Amy, just sent. Sadly, he passed away suddenly on Sunday, Aug 23. Posting here for those who may not know, and for us to be able to share anything we'd like about Barry, his stones, etc.

I always looked forward to Barry's newsletters - to reading about the weather in Yuma, or what the cats were up to. In recent years, his shoulder pain had caused him to do more cabbing than faceting, and also his wife's health struggles were forefront.

He always seemed to me to be just a genuinely good, kind, and interesting person. A good egg. He was fun to chat with on email, and he ran his business in an honorable way. He had more-than-fair, even criminally low, prices. He helped make beautiful gemstones affordable for many people over the years. I remember when his drops were frenzies - waiting by the computer and hitting refresh constantly.

Once when we were chatting in email, I told him that my husband had purchased a faceting machine and was learning how to cut gemstones. He very kindly included some free facet rough for my husband to work with in my next purchase from him. I still treasure an amethyst that was cut from the rough we got from him.

He will be missed. Many condolences to the family.

 

[OreoRosies86]

I just got this email. I am so sad.

 

[BWise]

Got the same sad email.

Came to know Barry from this forum around 2009 and have been reading his weekly emails ever since. Even after I stopped collecting gem stones, Barry's newsletter is one of the two cutter subscriptions that I kept.

In 2010, Barry sent me a little parcel of free goodies for my kids. He also included a little surprise stone for me with his hand written notes on the box saying "This is for mom!". I was going through some difficulties in my personal life back then, and his gift meant so much. I kept all the goodies and the small box they were shipped in.

Last weekend around the date when Barry passed away, I was going through my drawer and saw the box. I took it out and set it on the dresser. Sharing a picture of this little parcel, packed with kindness from our old pal.



Barry, we miss you.

 

[molinePDG]

Although I never got the chance to meet or speak with Barry, the quality of his goods and the testimonials from his customers says it all.

Wishing Barry's family healing and comfort.

 

[mrs-b]

Got the same sad email.

Came to know Barry from this forum around 2009 and have been reading his weekly emails ever since. Even after I stopped collecting gem stones, Barry's newsletter is one of the two cutter subscriptions that I kept.

In 2010, Barry sent me a little parcel of free goodies for me to share with my kids. He also included a little surprise stone for me with his hand written notes on the box saying "This is for mom!". I was going through some difficulties in my personal life back then, and his gift meant so much. I kept all the goodies and the small box they were shipped in.

Last weekend around the date when Barry passed away, I was going through my drawer and saw the box. I took it out and set it on the dresser. Sharing a picture of this little parcel, packed with kindness from our old pal.



Barry, we miss you.

<3

 

[dk168]

Sad news. I have yet to purchase any stone from him, however, I liked what I have seen from his website and pics from PSers of his stones.

DK

 

[Gabbycat]

This is a terrible pic that hardly does his work justice, but this amethyst was the only stone I was able to get from him either due to finances or you quick-fingered ladies and gents. It is beautiful and flashy. I loved my exchanges with him during the purchasing process. He was so kind and funny. We talked about our mutual love for the baseball Cardinals. I'll miss getting his newsletter. It was always a bright spot in the day.

 

[Rfisher]

 

[strawrose]

I feel so bad for their children. To lose both parents in the same year is tragic.

 

[missy]

It’s a terrible loss. He was the nicest person. A wonderful human being. His poor son and daughter first losing their mom in March and now their dad.

 

[MeowMeow]

That's awful news I never had the occasion to purchase from him but I wish his family comfort during this time. My condolences

 

[BlingObsession]

Barry was the nicest, kindest person. I bought a number of lovely stones from him and will treasure them even more now. It was a privilege to work with him. I'm deeply saddened at his loss.

 

[ccuheartnurse]

He was such a nice guy with a calming demeanour. He will be missed. My condolences to the family. I can’t imagine losing both parents mere months apart.

 

[PreRaphaelite]

I'm so sorry to learn this. Wishing peace and comfort for his family and friends.

 

[marymm]

I was so sad to hear about Barry's death. He was a wonderful man, so knowledgeable and also so kind. His gemstones were beautiful, and I bought quite a few of them over the last 10 years: I will treasure them all the more now. I enjoyed his emails and his newsletters these many years. He made the world more beautiful, and I shall miss him.

 

[collier]

I'm so sad to learn this. I never had interactions with him, but have pined for several different stone he had. Not the right time for a project or just a lovely stone I had no plans for, or someone beat me to it! There were several moonstones I keep thinking about, that parcel of sapphires....

However all that seems empty knowing he is gone. All the love and support I can send to those who are feeling his loss, especially his daughter.

He did indeed make the world more beautiful, one small pebble at a time or more importantly one connection at a time.

 

[lilmosun]

Words escaped me when I first read the email that went out. Barry provided beautifully cut/interesting stones at hard to beat prices. I often wondered if his store was as much a means of sharing his passion with others over making money. Every transaction came with a personal message from Barry with stories about everything the sourcing the rough, his facet pattern to what the weather was like in Arizona. He will be missed.

 

[MakingTheGrade]

I’ve been emailing and buying from him for over a decade. Honestly one of the sweetest humans I’ve known. Always super friendly and helpful and kind. He’ll be so missed.

 

[T L]

How sad!! So many memories of his beautiful work and kindness. He will be missed. My condolences to his family.

 

[voce]

I came onto the colored stone scene much too late so have not taken the opportunity to get to know him. However, I can recognize the wonderful stones he cut and know that the world of colored stones and the world in general will be the poorer with Barry gone. I hope he rests in peace with his beloved wife and that they're in a better place now. My condolences to his surviving family, who have been dealt a heavy blow this year.

 

[arkieb1]

I've purchased things from him - he was a genuinely decent, kind, lovely, honest guy. I got the message and felt really sad, I make the observation, unlike some of the other gemstone and diamond guys out there that bitch and moan about PSers and their customer base, Barry was always a gentleman and never had anything but a kind word to say about everyone.

He will be sadly missed by me and all of our community.

 

[NKOTB]

It’s a strange world, this gem/online one. How I can shed tears over someone I’ve never met, but know that his loss will be genuinely felt by many, as I’m feeling it today. He had many interesting stories, and a passion for his work, and his family. He was a truly generous and kind soul. I will treasure the stones I managed to score, and smile at the memories of his emails and newsletters.

 

[Catmom]

That's very sad news and a terrible loss to the gem world.

 

[partgypsy]

Of my gosh that's so terrrible. I bet one of the first stones I purchased was through ACS stones. It's just so terrible. I never met him but his love of cut gemstones as well as more unusual offerings shined through. I noticed the website is down/ I couldn't access.

 

[Chasiu]

When I saw that email yesterday, I felt very fortunate that I had opportunities in the past to correspond with Barry and purchase a couple of his stones over the years. He always sounded like a genuinely kind human being, and I will miss him Condolences to his family...