Barry
Collins passed away on July 31, 2022 in Sacramento with his wife and
daughter by his side.
Barry
was born in Glendale to Velma and Marshall Collins. He grew up in
Burbank, where he began surfing (and sometimes attended Burbank High
School). He continued his studies at San Diego State University
(because he could surf there), graduating with a bachelor’s
degree in biology
and then went on to Cal Poly Humboldt completing a master’s
degree in fisheries
biology.
His
career began in 1976 working as a biologist for California Department
of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) on the East Walker River. But he shortly
found himself in the California Delta working on the striped
bass
study
tagging stripers, documenting harvest rates, and doing population
estimates. He also supervised the fish
facilities
program
and the fish
salvage
operations
staff at the Skinner Delta Fish Protective Facility.
Barry
met his wife, Judy Tengbom, when she worked for him as a fisheries
technician. They were married in 1979 beginning 43 years of
adventures and life together. When Barry was not working, their
family spent time on the Delta islands hunting ducks or camping in
the Sierras. He passed his passion of the outdoors onto his son, Reed
Collins, teaching him how to fly-fish and tie flies, how to set up a
backcountry camp, and how to select the best surf waves; these are
all pastimes Reed still enjoys today.
In
1991, Barry and his family decided to move from Stockton to Humboldt
County where Barry continued his career at CDFW working on the
natural
stocks
assessment
project;
he then moved into the Fisheries Restoration Grant Program, which
supported salmon and steelhead habitat restoration projects up and
down the northern California coast. During these years on “take
your daughter to work day” he brought his daughter, Alison Collins,
out to count juvenile Chinook salmon and steelhead in the local
rotary screw traps. This sparked her interest in fisheries and led
her to pursue a career as a fisheries biologist. Today she works in
the California Delta on many of the same projects that her father
worked on.
Barry
had so many different passions during his life. He most enjoyed
backpacking and fly fishing in mountain streams. He loved duck
hunting and trap and skeet shooting. He enjoyed delta blues and
played the guitar and mandolin. He loved taking and developing his
own photographs, especially black and white photography. He was a
surfer in southern California and a golfer in northern California. He
studied astronomy and was building his own telescope. There were many
nights spent with family and friends looking at the stars and
identifying the constellations and galaxies. He also had a passion
for baking bread and we will always remember his delicious focaccia.
Thank you, Barry, for enriching our lives in so many ways.
Barry
is remembered by his colleagues and friends as a good person, an
inquisitive scientist, fun to be around, direct but constructive,
possessing a witty dry sense of humor, and one who was committed to
seeing salmonid restoration projects implemented. Memories being
shared by friends and peers have created a beautiful tribute to a man
that made an impact on so many people in his life.
Special
thanks to friends and caregivers who helped Barry live his best life
including Corey, Dusty, Kyle, Doreen, Leonard, Cadine, Shaquille and
Adult Day Health Care of Mad River.
Barry
was preceded in death by his father, Marshall Collins, and mother,
Velma Collins.
Celebrating
his life are his beloved wife, Judith Tengbom, his daughter Alison
Collins (Corey Phillis and granddaughter Kira), his son, Reed Collins
(Sally), his brothers, Fred Collins and Ray Collins and nephews Brian
Collins (Chandra), David Collins and John Collins and their families.
Friends
are invited to a celebration of Barry’s life at Humboldt Unitarian
Fellowship located at 24 Fellowship Way, Bayside on October 8, 2022
from 2-4 p.m.
Should
friends desire, contributions in memory of Barry may be sent to the
North Coast Regional Land Trust, P.O. Box 398, Bayside, CA 95524 or
online at
this
link.
If
you’d like to share a story or memory about Barry, please email
these to his daughter, Alison Collins at 2bwc@suddenlink.net
She will be collecting these into a book to celebrate his life.
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The obituary above was submitted by Barry Collins’ loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.
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