Obituary of Elliott "Barney" Mason

Elliott Bernard “Barney” Mason, 80, of Cortlandville passed away Saturday, September 16, 2023 with his family by his side. Barney was born July 29, 1943, in Detroit, Michigan, the son of the late Elliott Brown Mason and the former Rita Napolitano. Barney was raised in Royal Oak, Michigan, and graduated from The University of Detroit Jesuit High School. After high school, he attended Loyola University in Chicago and then went on to complete his master’s degree and doctorate at Wayne State University in Detroit. He was soon married to Marsha Marquardt and they moved to Fairfax, Virginia, where Barney was employed by George Mason University for two years as assistant professor in the biology department. They relocated to Cortland in 1973, and Barney worked for thirty-three years at SUNY Cortland as professor in the biology department, teaching human anatomy and physiology as well as other courses. Barney served as department chair of the biology department for eleven years. While at SUNY Cortland, he co-authored three textbooks. Barney was a longtime communicant of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, where he served as Lector and Eucharistic Minister. In 2005, Barney and Marsha made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land with their clergyman and fellow church family and friends. In his spare time, Barney enjoyed golfing, spending time with his grandchildren, and taking walks with his wife. He will be remembered for his gentleness, quiet demeanor, and dry sense of humor. He is survived by his wife of fifty-two years Marsha Mason, his daughters; Jennifer R. (Tracey) Gajak, Julie M. (Ben) Maldonado, Jessica M. (Stephen) May, his sister Mary M. (Christopher) Andreae, his grandchildren Alexandra, Avery, Mason, Aidan, Kate, Gabriel, and Sienna, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Calling hours will be Friday, September 22, 2023 from 5-7 pm at the Wright-Beard Funeral Home Inc., 9 Lincoln Ave., Cortland, NY 13045. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday September 23, 2023 11 am at St. Mary’s Church, Cortland NY, 13045. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his name to “Alzheimer’s Association”, https://act.alz.org/site/TR/Events/Tributes-AlzheimersChampions?pxfid=842268&fr_id=1060&pg=fund