Obituary for Barry John Kotek
Barry John Kotek, 68, died on March 2, 2021 at his home in Naples, Florida, under the care of Avow Hospice and two private aides. His wife, Carlene Thissen, his son, Barry Kotek Jr., his sister Julie Dickerson and our loving private aide Jose Rubio, were with him at his bedside when he took his last breath. A funeral Mass was held at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Naples on Friday, March 5.
He was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer in 2016 and fought a challenging battle to live for four and a half years. He never smoked, but was exposed to a great deal of second-hand smoke, plus pesticides. His parents, Theresa and Alfred Kotek, and his brother, Bruce Kotek, preceded him in death.
Barry lived an amazing life. Born and raised in Ipswich, MA, home of Ipswich clams, he was proud to have been certified as an Eagle Scout. He worked as a lumberjack as he attended the University of Maine, earning three master’s degrees: Forestry, Pulp and Paper management, and Business Administration.
He had a highly successful career in wood processing; pulp and paper management; and production growing. He developed eucalyptus forests and pulp mills in Indonesia for Scott Paper Company, and managed banana plantations for Chiquita in Costa Rica and Panama. Barry also lived and worked in Colorado, Vancouver, Belgium, and Japan. When he met his wife, Carlene Thissen, in 1994, he joined her company, Retail Systems Consulting, as Managing Partner. He was later a realtor with VIP Realty.
Barry loved golf, motorcycles, cooking, dogs, watching sports, and growing exotic trees on his Golden Gate Estates properties. He was quiet but always had a smile for friends and coworkers, resilient, and determined.
The family requests donations be sent in Barry's name to Sister Maureen Kelleher, Legal Aid Service of Collier County, 1400 North 15th Street #201, Immokalee, Florida, 34142.
He was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer in 2016 and fought a challenging battle to live for four and a half years. He never smoked, but was exposed to a great deal of second-hand smoke, plus pesticides. His parents, Theresa and Alfred Kotek, and his brother, Bruce Kotek, preceded him in death.
Barry lived an amazing life. Born and raised in Ipswich, MA, home of Ipswich clams, he was proud to have been certified as an Eagle Scout. He worked as a lumberjack as he attended the University of Maine, earning three master’s degrees: Forestry, Pulp and Paper management, and Business Administration.
He had a highly successful career in wood processing; pulp and paper management; and production growing. He developed eucalyptus forests and pulp mills in Indonesia for Scott Paper Company, and managed banana plantations for Chiquita in Costa Rica and Panama. Barry also lived and worked in Colorado, Vancouver, Belgium, and Japan. When he met his wife, Carlene Thissen, in 1994, he joined her company, Retail Systems Consulting, as Managing Partner. He was later a realtor with VIP Realty.
Barry loved golf, motorcycles, cooking, dogs, watching sports, and growing exotic trees on his Golden Gate Estates properties. He was quiet but always had a smile for friends and coworkers, resilient, and determined.
The family requests donations be sent in Barry's name to Sister Maureen Kelleher, Legal Aid Service of Collier County, 1400 North 15th Street #201, Immokalee, Florida, 34142.