Obituary: Retired West Barnstable Fire Chief James Barrett Jr.

BARNSTABLE, MA — The West Barnstable Fire Department lost a former deputy chief on Jan. 23.

Fire Department officials announced that retired Deputy Chief James M. Barrett, Jr. "died peacefully at home."

Barrett joined the WBFD as a volunteer firefighter in 1973 and served for twenty-two years. He retired from the WBFD on Dec. 31, 1995, having served 15 years as the department's volunteer deputy fire chief.

According to the department, he was a "dedicated leader of the West Barnstable FD."

"Our condolences go out to his wife, Barbara, his family, and his friends. West Barnstable will miss him," the department said.

According to an obituary in the Cape Cod Times, Barrett was born in Vermont in 1942, but grew up primarily in Braintree.

In addition to his work with the fire department, Barrett was a long-tenured employee at Massachusetts Maritime Academy. He retired in 2006 as the Director of Facilities.

Barrett was also a man of God, serving as a Deacon in the parish of Our Lady of Victory in Centerville.

He is survived by his wife Barbara of West Barnstable, son Matt and his wife Andrea and two grandchildren Matteo and Isabella Barrett all of Panama, according to the obituary.