Update 2026
Hello to all, from every corner of Barry’s world ❤️
Two years after Barry's passing, we are finally organizing a gravestone placement for him. This would be 20" X 10", flat to the ground, probably in light gray stone, with his name, dates of birth and death, and the inscription "May his memory awaken us to the work we need to do in this world" (from Rabbi Joey's eulogy). There might also be a small image of an angel, if we can find an appropriate one.
The cost would be about $1,000. We have reactivated this page (01/29/26), for those who are able to contribute.
*I’ve updated our “goal” to reflect the additional $1,000 needed
Update 2023
Thomas Barry Sutton
Jan. 30, 1950 - Sept. 24, 2023
Thomas Barry Sutton, activist, intellectual, and beloved member of our community, died Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, at Hopewell House, an end-of-life residence in Hillsdale, Portland. He was 73 years old.
Barry was born in Portland Jan. 30, 1950, at Wilcox Memorial Hospital, (now Good Samaritan in N.W. Portland), to Phyllis Hildegarde Scharffenberg and Alfred Edward Sutton, Jr., a manager at North Pacific Grain Growers Association.
Barry had a brother, Tim, who was nine years older. Their mother was known to be loving and supportive; but their father struggled with alcoholism. Both parents died while Barry was in his teens, leaving him a ward of the state.
Little was known of Barry's life, as he kept his story to himself. When asked how old he was, he would answer, "I am as old as you think I am." It is in the aftermath of Barry's death that details of his life are emerging, including some relatives who had lost touch with him but never stopped caring about him.
Barry survived decades on the streets of Portland. For years, he rode a bike, often loaded down with his possessions. As he aged, he walked his loaded bike around town, and eventually carried a backpack or a clutch of plastic bags.
Barry suffered a massive stroke Dec. 29, 2022, was hospitalized and then moved to a foster care home, where he seemed to be recovering well for a while, but then declined rapidly until his death.
Barry had a large network of friends and supporters, largely because of his regular visits to places of worship all over Portland. He had an in-depth understanding of local as well as global politics and was a fierce advocate for the houseless community. He often attended City Council meetings, and had a close, collaborative friendship with Commissioner Nick Fish. Barry approached all these gatherings and places of worship with passion and genuine curiosity. In discussions, Barry was often the one asking the hardest questions.
Although most of the faith groups in Barry's network barely knew of the existence of the others during his years of wandering, after his stroke they came together to support him through his hospitalization, foster care, and end-of-life experience. Through Barry's wanderings, these groups have become intertwined, and together will honor Barry's life as an interfaith community composed of Unitarians, Methodists, Lutherans, Quakers, Buddhists, several Jewish communities, and members of Peace House.
Barry was a rare and irreplaceable human being, and will be remembered for his deep, compassionate heart and intense intellect. He is deeply missed.
Barry is survived by his cousin, Linda Steif of Lake Oswego; along with his niece, Lisa Sorensen; and nephews, Chris and Steve Sutton, from the Seattle area. His brother, Tim, predeceased him in 2019.
Please join us for this Celebration of Life service at 4:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023, at the First Unitarian Church, 1211 S.W. Main St., Portland. A potluck will follow. All are welcome.
If you knew Barry and want to connect with others of his network before November 16, send an email to [email redacted]
In lieu of flowers, please consider honoring Barry's life with a donation to Pat Schwiebert, who has been feeding the houseless community for over 43 years and with whom Barry lived for some time, at Metanoia Peace House, 2116 N.E. 18th Ave., Portland, OR 97212.
This GoFundMe Page will be used to help cover the financial costs of Barry’s obituary, which his loved ones found to be deserving of a display in the Oregonian, the cost of cremation, as well as burial fees. Thank you so much to all that have supported Barry during his last year of life.
January of 2023:
Barry Sutton is a friend, an intellectual, and an advocate for the rights of houseless individuals in the Portland Metro Area. Barry is a houseless individual who is well-known among various religious communities around Portland, including but not limited to Jewish, Unitarian, and Buddist congregations. Barry lives on his own when on the streets and has no family. On December 29th, 2022 Barry collapsed in the Hollywood Fred Meyers in NE Portland. Rushed to the ER at Providence Portland Medical Center (PPMC), Barry was diagnosed with an Acute Right-sided Ischemic Stroke and was rushed into emergency surgery to remove a clot from his brain.
Barry was admitted then to the ICU, and after a week, to a Medical-Surgical Unit at PPMC. Barry is working hard to recover from the effects of his stroke, including generalized weakness and severe disruption in his ability to communicate. Barry currently relies on a nasogastric feeding tube for nutrition and is limited in his ability to swallow. But every day he fights and is getting stronger.
As many of your know, Barry will be turning 73 on January 30 and has lived on the streets for nearly 40 years. Due to his clothes being cut off in the Emergency Room, Barry's only belongings are 2 pairs of socks, a stack of scrap papers, a Mcdonald's gift card (not sure of the balance), and a bottle of eye drops that he was picking up from the pharmacy when he collapsed.
I am reaching out to you, his community, for help. According to his Doctors, it is believed that Barry will likely need assistance for the rest of his life. While we are hopeful that the State of Oregon will provide the services he needs, I am hoping to raise some money to assist Barry in his recovery and provide needed items, such as clothing and prescription glasses, and comfort items. Any help is much appreciated.
Barry loves visitors. Hospital staff has shared that he lights up and shows improvement when visitors are around. If anyone would like to visit Barry at PPMC, feel free to send me an email at [email redacted] , or my father at [email redacted], for more information.