Barry Allen

It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Barry G. Allen, November 9, 2025 after a brief battle with cancer. Barry was the loving spouse of Jeanne, of Hamilton, ON, brother to Julie (Igor) Shaskin of Lethbridge, AB and Janet Turner of Calgary, AB. He was “Unkle B” to Andrew Shaskin (Laura Murphy-Burke, Tye Shaskin), Evan Shaskin (Laurel Tester), Troy Turner and Kristen Turner. Barry was a brilliant, thoughtful, gentle, funny, quirky soul. A philosopher, a teacher and a storyteller. A former student wrote the class he took from Barry was, “taught by the best lecturer I have ever heard.” He also went onto say, “Most of all, though, I remember that Barry Allen was kind.” Barry was kind. We will miss him and forever cherish his memory.Barry was born June 14, 1957 to Adria and Gib Allen in Ogden, Utah. He was their everything. Sisters came along, as did many moves, Idaho, Utah, Nebraska and then to Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. Those were rocky times for Barry and our parents, as he recalled most recently, as teenage angst reared its ugly head. Barry was adventurous and an independent thinker, seeing no need to conform. It was the 70’s, he had long hair and listened to loud music! He thought it ridiculous that Physical Education was a prerequisite to earning a high school diploma so he wouldn’t take it and thus, did not earn his diploma. A high school councillor once told him he might as well get a job digging ditches as he probably wouldn’t amount to much more. Barry went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts with Great Distinction in Philosophy (U of Lethbridge) and a PhD from Princeton. He did a post doctorate at the University of Chicago and joined the Philosophy Department at McMaster University where he spent the remainder of his career earning the title of Distinguished University Professor of Philosophy and becoming a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.

Barry Allen, Philosopher and Professor at McMaster University (1957 – 2025) Barry Allen, philosopher, Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Philosophy at McMaster University, Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, died on November 9, 2025, in Hamilton, Ontario. Born on June 14, 1957, in Ogden, Utah, to Gilbert and Adria Allen, Barry studied under the philosopher Richard Rorty at Princeton University, and devoted 39 years to teaching, research, mentoring students, and committee work at McMaster, continuing his engagement until his final days. Barry was a dedicated mentor, attracting students from around the world to work with him and supporting them with compassion. Reserved in expression, his devotion to the colleagues and students revealed a gentle and kind soul to those who knew him well. He found simple pleasures in jazz and red wine each evening, and the company of his beloved Sheltie dog, whom he affectionately called "little brother." At the time of passing, Barry was completing a manuscript, All Our Relations, a book on philosophy and the First Nations of North America. His published works include Living in Time: The Philosophy of Henri Bergson, Empiricisms: Experience and Experiment from Antiquity to the Anthropocene, Striking Beauty: A Philosophical Look at the Asian Martial Arts, Vanishing Into Things: Knowledge in Chinese Tradition, Art and Design in Human Experience, Knowledge and Civilization, and Truth in Philosophy. He was deeply sustained throughout his life by the affection of family, friends, colleagues, students, and neighbors. In keeping with his wishes, no funeral or memorial will be held, and he will return to nature on a simple and eco-friendly path. www.allenmortuaries.com

https://www.humanities.mcmaster.ca/2025/11/14/an-inspiration-for-all-who-knew-him-barry-allen-remembered-as-an-exceptional-scholar-professor-and-mentor/