World City Hall reporter Brian Barber dies
BY STAFF REPORTS
Wednesday, January 09, 2013
After a long struggle with heart failure and complications caused by anti-rejection drugs related to two heart transplants, Tulsa World City Hall reporter Brian Barber died Wednesday evening. He was 39.
Services are pending.
Barber had his first heart transplant in 2000, when he was 26 years old, and the second in 2005.
“Brian Barber was such an inspiration to us. We are saddened and stunned by his death,” said Joe Worley, Tulsa World executive editor.
Barber joined the Tulsa World as a night police reporter in December 1996. He later worked as a general assignment reporter before moving to the City Hall beat in 2004.
“Brian’s warmth and wit entertained us daily, and he was loved by his co-workers, who were amazed at his knowledge of music, movies, books and all pop culture,” Worley said.
“Despite his obvious health challenges, Brian never took short cuts. He loved his City Hall beat. He knew city government thoroughly and was competitive to always do his best work.”
Mayor Dewey Bartlett said Wednesday night that his wife, “Victoria, and I are very, very saddened by losing such a dear, sweet man as Brian Barber. Besides being a very good journalist (and) good writer, … he was a sweet man but at the same time strong, in his own quiet way.”
Barber was “a strong human being” who wanted to live, while knowing that his health probably wouldn’t allow him to live a long life, Bartlett said.
“Up until today, he was able to beat the reality of his body giving up, even though his spirit never did. His spirit never, never quit, and he was such an inspiration for that,” the mayor continued.
Read a complete obituary in Thursday's Tulsa World.
Associated Images:
Brian Barber
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