Adrian (Andy) Irish Sr.
Starksboro/Bristol
On Saturday, November 30, 2019 Adrian C. Irish Sr. loving husband, father and papa left earth for his reward in heaven.
Andy was born on August 29th 1938 in St. Albans, Vermont to Robert and Bessie (Ryan) Irish. He was the first of four children. Brothers, Michael (Deceased), Brian, Dwight and sister Cindy. He grew up on a small farm in Fletcher, VT where he spent many an hour in a field watching the cows and reading, this is where Andy acquired much of his intelligence. He graduated BFA Fairfax and was the salutatorian in his senior class. He attended UVM College upon entering the Navy, which he served for 6 years and was a very proud veteran. Andy worked for the telephone company for many years, and then started a career with IBM in Essex, VT. He retired from there after 25 years.
In 1987 he married the love of his life and his best friend Karen. He raised their five children, the oldest Robert Todd Wood, Melody Lois (Wood) Roell, Brett Scott Wood, Jason Clifford Wood, and Jarred Allen Wood. He loved and enjoyed their 14 grandchildren, and 4 great grandchildren. The grandchildren are Madison and Mason Wood, Kaleb Shepard, Saddie Roy, Kennady Roy and Bella Roell, Corey and Zachary Wood, Keana, Shayna and Matthew Wood, Xavier, Aiden and Connor Wood. His great grandchildren are Kylee and Sophee Shepard, Blake Nadeau and Charley Mouton.
Andy was the most faithful fan for baseball games, basketball games, soccer games, and car racing. He followed rain or shine. He loved reading, gardening, fishing, and crazy adventures like spur of the moment tattoos in South Carolina with his wife Karen. They enjoyed life to the fullest, and they loved their hearts out. He loved and enjoyed his dog, Dash.
He will be greatly missed by all who knew him, he was tired and ready. He had battled Parkinson’s disease for 4 years, ending in uncontrollable seizures which eventually took him. Andy is survived by his wife, Karen Belle Irish, his 5 children, 14 grandchildren, and 4 great grandchildren.
Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday, December 3rd from 4 to 7 p.m. at Brown-McClay Funeral Home in Bristol. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. on Wednesday, December 4th at Bristol Baptist Church, with a reception following at American Legion in Bristol. Burial will be at Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Randolph. To send online condolences to his family please visit www.brownmcclayfuneralhomes.com
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Sending condolences to Adrian’s family I was a classmate at BFA Fairfax.class 1956. Remembering all the wonderful memories that you shared with Adrian will always be a comfort to all of you. Our class enjoyed our yearly dinners and sharing our stories, will miss this classmate’s stories. May God Bless
Phyllis Forsey
A wonderful man, I had the honor and enjoyment of knowing Andy when he moved to Alburgh, we had
great fun in talking baseball and life in general. I always thought he might had been Santa in disguise , kind of
just hiding out in a small northern town, he was just that nice to be around. I will miss you my friend. Herbie Pearo
Karen and family so sorry for your loss, sending love and strength to get through this difficult time! RIP Adrian!
On behalf of the Wirick family,
A true treasure has been lost. We send our absolute deepest sympathies and condolences. May you find peace in knowing how deeply he was loved by so many,
Ardian Jr. And two brothers and step family we are very sorry for your loss. I will keep you in my prayers. Reggie and Jackie Trayah
I first met Andy in June, 1959 when I joined the USS Barry in Newport, RI as a freshly commissioned ensign in the US Navy. Andy was a seaman in the Electronics Division, led by Chief Pickle (!), and I was assigned as the ship’s Electronics Officer, “in charge” of the division. I knew very little about electronics at the time ( I was not yet 21 years old), so I depended upon Andy and Chief Pickle to teach me all about the operation and maintenance of Barry’s radios, radars, sonars, and fire control equipment. I don’t remember much about those days, but I have no negative memories, so obviously the Chief and his team kept me out of trouble.
Now, fast forward to Vermont 54 years later, shortly after my wife and I moved here from Pennsylvania and began to sample the local cuisine, an essential activity after moving some place new. We were at Cubbers, in Bristol, when an older man passed in front of me wearing a baseball cap carrying the label U.S.S. Barry. I jumped up and confronted him, asking him why he was wearing “my hat”, and he responded by saying you must be mistaken, “this is my hat”!!! That older man was Andy, and this was our second meeting, in a little town in Vermont, vary far removed from the venue and time when we first met! We exchanged pleasantries, talked about the ship, and wished each other well. (I also let him keep his hat!), I later learned that Andy lived in Ferrisburgh, less than five miles from our current home!
As you might imagine, this is my favorite “small world” story; remember, there a fewer than 300 sailors and 20 officers about a typical destroyer, and the fact that two of them ended up in the same pizza parlor more than 50 years later is nothing short of amazing.
I hope this story will bring a smile to Andy’s family and friends.