10/19/2026
A Life of Love, Compassion, and Perseverance
Barry Schecter was born in New York City in August 1950 to his loving parents, Louis and Frances Schecter. Raised in a family with deep Jewish roots, Barry grew up understanding the importance of heritage, family, and caring for others. These values would remain at the heart of who he was throughout his life. He grew up alongside his brother, Eddie, who predeceased him, and his sister, Sheila.
Throughout his life, Barry was a man of many talents, passions, and accomplishments. An ambitious entrepreneur and dedicated businessman, he built and operated numerous successful businesses, including AOK Fuel, car washes, a towing company, a truck stop, a restaurant, automotive repair businesses, and several Mobil gas stations throughout New York and Florida. His entrepreneurial spirit, determination, and willingness to take on new challenges were defining characteristics of his life.
By his side throughout these endeavors was his devoted wife of 45 years, Sharon. Together, they built far more than successful businesses. They built a life rooted in love, commitment, and family, raising their four children, Lisa, Harold, Jennifer, and Joshua. While Barry took great pride in his professional accomplishments, the family he and Sharon created was always his greatest source of happiness and pride.
After many years in business, Barry felt called to pursue a different path, one that reflected something that had always come naturally to him: helping others. Barry possessed a remarkable ability to understand people, recognize their struggles, and offer comfort, encouragement, and guidance during life's most difficult moments. He had a way of making people feel heard, understood, and valued.
In the late 1990s, Barry returned to school and earned his Master of Social Work degree from Marywood University. He and Sharon made the courageous decision to sell the businesses they had spent so many years building and begin a new chapter devoted to serving others. Sharon went on to become the Executive Director of the Tioga United Way, while Barry began his career as a social worker and therapist.
In addition to his many accomplishments, Barry was a dedicated and respected professor at SUNY Cortland, where he taught for over 20 years. During his tenure, he played an instrumental role in helping shape and strengthen the university's Health Department, leaving a lasting impact on both the program and the students it served. Barry was more than just a professor; he was a mentor, a role model, and a source of encouragement and inspiration to countless students. He had a remarkable ability to connect with people, recognize their potential, and inspire them to believe in themselves. His passion for teaching extended far beyond the classroom, as he genuinely cared about the success and well-being of his students. For Barry, teaching was never simply about sharing knowledge; it was about making a meaningful difference in the lives of others. The lessons he taught, the wisdom he shared, and the kindness he showed will continue to live on through the many students whose lives he touched.
Barry dedicated himself to helping others navigate life's challenges. His compassion, wisdom, and genuine desire to make a difference touched countless lives. To Barry, helping others was never simply a profession; it was a calling and an expression of the person he was.
In the final chapter of his life, Barry faced perhaps his greatest personal challenge when he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at the age of 75. While many might have viewed such a diagnosis as a reason to step away from their work or surrender to the difficulties ahead, Barry approached it with the same determination and resilience that had guided him throughout his life. He refused to allow his diagnosis to define him or diminish his desire to help others.
With the unwavering love, care, and support of his family, especially his devoted wife, Sharon, Barry continued moving forward. Remarkably, he continued seeing patients until just days before his passing, when he was no longer physically able to do so. Even while facing his own tremendous challenges, Barry remained committed to being a source of strength and comfort for others. His perseverance was a testament to his character and the extraordinary depth of his compassion.
Yet, as remarkable as Barry's accomplishments and life experiences were, they tell only part of his story.
Above all else, Barry's life was defined by love.
He gave love freely and wholeheartedly, and in return, he was surrounded by an extraordinary amount of love from those fortunate enough to know him. He was a devoted husband to Sharon, a loving father to Lisa (Marcus Akins), Harold (Wenhui Chen), Jennifer (Brian Bresney), and Joshua (Jennifer Schecter), and an immensely proud grandfather
His nine grandchildren—Brendan, Julia, Chelsey, Emiley, Chloey, Benjamin, Hannah, Adeline, and Tony—held a special place in his heart. Barry cherished every opportunity to spend time with them, whether sharing conversations about life, kicking a soccer ball, watching them play sports, enjoying their dancing, or simply being together. He took a genuine interest in each of their lives, celebrated their accomplishments, and made sure they knew how deeply they were loved. The close relationships he shared with his grandchildren were among his greatest joys. On top of having nine grandchildren Barry was also blessed with the opportunity to see four great grandchildren come into this world. Their names are Connor, Jack, Oliver, and Henry. Each of which held a special place in his heart.
Barry also had a lifelong appreciation for music, cars, football, and the simple pleasure of spending time with the people he loved. He enjoyed life's experiences, embraced new challenges, and found meaning in the connections he made along the way.
Those who knew Barry will remember not only his intelligence, determination, and accomplishments, but also his kindness, generosity, empathy, and ability to bring light into the lives of others. He understood that life's greatest measure of success was not found in what a person accumulated or achieved, but in the love they shared and the difference they made in the lives of those around them.
Barry leaves behind a legacy that extends far beyond the businesses he built or the careers he pursued. His legacy lives on in his family, in the countless individuals he helped, and in the love and wisdom he shared so generously throughout his life.
He will be deeply loved, profoundly missed, and forever remembered.
Perhaps his own words best capture the way he chose to live and the legacy he leaves behind:
"Darkness cannot exist where there is light."
Barry spent his life bringing that light to others. And although he is no longer physically with us, the light he shared will continue to shine through the lives of everyone he touched.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. at the Estey, Munroe & Fahey Funeral Home, 15 Park Street, Owego, NY. Entombment will follow in the Vestal Hills Memorial Park. The family will receive friends Wednesday from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
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