Gary Thomas Barrette

Born in Niagara Falls, NY on October 29, 1941, Gary was the eldest of four boys of the late Donald and Eleanor Barrette.

Gary was a loving husband, proud parent and grandfather, loyal friend to many, accomplished athlete, avid golfer, dedicated coach and teacher to countless players and students, author, and an involved community leader. He was kind and generous and loved his family above all else. A man of high character and integrity, he was a positive role model and inspiration to numerous individuals he crossed paths with. He will be missed immensely.

Gary devoted over 50 years of his life to sports education as a graduate assistant, professor, coach, and volunteer. His interest and passion for sports were rooted in his childhood experiences in Niagara Falls youth sports and it developed into a rewarding and successful career. Gary graduated from Niagara Falls High School in 1958 where he was an honors student and standout football and baseball player known for his leadership and tireless work ethic. He was the first in the Barrette family to attend college having earned a sports scholarship and competed in both baseball and football. In addition, he coached six different collegiate sports, a testament to his versatility in applying sports science and education to different disciplines.

Dr. Barrette earned his doctoral degree in 1977 from Columbia University, a master’s degree in 1969 from the Pennsylvania State University and a B.A. from the College of Wooster, Ohio in 1963, where he earned four varsity letters in baseball and captained the team as a senior. He also lettered in football and was a linebacker on the team which was the 1959 Ohio Conference Football Co-champion. In 2014, he was elected to the Niagara Falls, N.Y Sports Hall of Fame for his high school and college playing achievements and contributions to teacher and coach education.

Dr. Barrette began his academic and coaching career at Johns Hopkins University in 1964 where he served as Director of Physical Education and coached baseball, basketball and soccer. In 1969, he joined the Department of Health, Physical Education & Recreation at Adelphi University, Garden City, N.Y. as an assistant professor. He taught both theory and instructional methodology courses in the teacher education program and coached football, tennis, and golf. In 1974, he earned a promotion to the rank of associate professor and in 1978 was promoted to full professor and Coordinator of the Teacher/Coach Education program. Subsequently, he designed the innovative and eminently successful GATE (Graduate Alternative Teacher Education) program. After completing a distinguished 32-year professorial career at Adelphi University, he served briefly as the Dean of Academic Affairs at the United States Sports Academy and then as an adjunct professor in the Department of Exercise Science and Health Promotion, College of Education, Florida Atlantic University from 2004-2016.

Dr. Barrette was well known for his dynamic sport instruction designs which provided coaches with innovative and effective sport teaching and coaching strategies. Over his career, he conducted hundreds of coach/sport/teacher education programs and workshops in the USA and abroad. His presentations always featured and emphasized instructional principles and creative coaching

practices which transform basic teaching and coaching activity into dynamic teaching and coaching effectiveness. Dr. Barrette is listed in the International Who’s Who in Sport Pedagogy Theory and Research, published in 1994 and in 2000, he was inducted as a Fellow into the Society of Fellows of AIESEP (Association Internationale des Ecoles Superieures d’Education Physique).

Dr. Barrette, co-author of An Introduction to the Terminology of Sport Pedagogy (Pieron, M., Cheffers, J., & Barrette, G.T., 1990), co-editor of Myths, Models and Methods in Sport Pedagogy, (Barrette et al, 1987) and co-editor of What’s Going on in Gym, (Anderson & Barrette, 1978), authoring a chapter in that monograph and has authored numerous articles on teacher/coach education, physical education, youth sport and sport education in other publications. He was also, a co-developer of the Adelphi University Coaching Institute, a pioneering youth coach education program featured in the August 22, 1988, Sports Illustrated article titled, Stress Free Little League. The program focused on improving coaching practices for volunteer sport coaches and recreational sport staff in New York City and to provide safe, developmentally and instructionally appropriate coaching practices for youth sport programs.

Gary also served as the President of the Advisory Board of Directors for the Florence De George Boys & Girls Club in West Palm Beach, Florida from 2005-2014. Into his 70s and 80s, Gary remained professionally active as a youth sport education advocate and consultant in South Florida, conducting workshops and writing about critical youth sport coaching topics.

Gary was a devoted husband to Louise "Lou Ann" Barrette, with whom he shared a deep and enduring love. Gary was the proud father of Kristine (Michael) Borchetta, Jeffrey Barrette, Jessica Clark, and Justin Clark, and a cherished grandfather to Michael Borchetta Jr, Evan Borchetta, Ryan Borchetta, Carter Borchetta, Olivia Borchetta, Matthew Borchetta, and Salvador Barrette. He is also survived by his brothers, Robert (Carolyn) Barrette, David (Sandi) Barrette, and Donald (Lori) Barrette, and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations be made to the Florence De George Boy & Girls Club, West Palm Beach, FL or a charity of one’s choice.

A private burial will take place on October 25th, 2025 at Our Lady Queen of Peace located at 10941 Southern Blvd, Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411.