William Barry McRae ’82

Barry died of brain cancer Aug. 24, 2012, at his home.

Born in New Orleans, Barry spent most of his life in Birmingham, Ala. At Princeton he majored in classics and was a member of Ivy Club. He served as president of the Nassoons and brought down the house with his rendition of “Why Should I Wake Up?” in Triangle’s production Cabaret.

He received an MBA from Penn’s Wharton School and led a successful career in finance, most recently as managing director at Sterne Agee. He served on the boards of the Alabama Ballet, Altamont School, Red Mountain Theater Company, and Interfaith Hospitality House. He was president of Birmingham Venture Club and of the Alabama chapters of the Princeton Alumni Association and Schools Committee.

Barry was a Southern gentleman, but with a searing wit and irreverent sense of humor. His classmates remember his dance moves, his generosity, and the way he made life more vivid.

Barry is survived by the wife he adored, Lesley Wellman McRae ’84; their beloved children, Alexander, Malcolm, and Charlotte McRae; his parents, Dr. J. Finley McRae ’57 and Elizabeth McRae; his mother, Mikiel Hertzler; and five siblings. To all those touched by Barry, especially his family, the class extends deepest sympathy.