Barry J. Bush

Ogunquit, Maine – Monday Oct 14, 2024
Barry J. Bush 78, died at his home in Ogunquit, Maine, the son of Sydney & Kathryn Bush, born January 20, 1946.
He grew up in Yardley, PA always knowing he wanted to be a firefighter, becoming a Lieutenant at age 16 on the
Yardley-Makefield fire department in Pennsylvania and a volunteer firefighter summers in Ogunquit, Maine.

After high school he spent a year at Spring Garden Institute in Philadelphia, PA in diesel mechanics before going
to Oklahoma State University where he received degrees in Fire Protection Technology and Vocational Education.
He came to NH in November of 1969 as the Assistant Fire Chief with the Trenton State Hospital in Trenton, NJ.

As the first Chief of Fire Standards & Training, initially under the Department of Education and housed on
Stickney Ave, Mr. Bush was influential in gaining autonomy as a separate agency. Mr. Bush’s 1st objective was to
organize New Hampshire into seven districts as training was scattered around the state in up to 50 districts. Next
he develop the statewide certification program for firefighters and fire officers and developed a statewide testing
and personnel tracking system. He initiated the 1st recruit school for firefighters, strongly believed in physical
fitness in the fire service and could be seen with his recruits running all over Concord in the early mornings.

Over his 24 years with Fire Standards & Training, he developed the curriculum and taught the first courses at the
then Voch-Tech college in Laconia which now offers a Fire Science Degree as Lakes Region Community College.
He was influential in getting the statewide EMS service into the fire service, as well as developing the state law
giving the authority to the Fire Officer in-charge during emergencies dealing with hazardous materials incidents,
and initiated the legislation that created the New Hampshire Fire Academy on Smokey Bear Blvd in Concord, NH.
Mr. Bush was an Aerobics instructor at the Concord YMCA, a PADI certified Dive Instructor and taught SCUBA
diving out of Diver’s Down in Manchester, NH and later the seacoast for over 20 years.

After retirement the family moved to Kittery, Maine where he earned his master’s (captain’s) license, operated
the U.S. Coast Guard certified charter vessel ‘Seafari’ for fishing, SCUBA diving, coastal cruising and whale
watching and owned and operated Pepperrell Cove Marine Services in Newington, NH doing underwater marine
construction and mooring maintenance services with his son Bryan.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years Flora (Pixley), sons Bryan Bush and his wife Kathryn of Kittery, Maine, Erik
Bush of York, Maine, 4 grandchildren, Brianna Parra and her husband Rick, Sydney, Lauren Bush all of Kittery, ME
and Evan Bush of Barrington, NH, and nieces & nephews. Please omit flowers.

The family requests donations to Tunnel-two-Towers in lieu of flowers.  t2t.org

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