Eric Barker of East Longmeadow, MA died peacefully in his sleep early in the morning of Friday, November 6 at the age of 71. Eric John Dacre Barker was born in 1955 in Calcutta, India. As a child, he moved to Sydney, Australia, where he completed a Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering.

As a young adult, he moved to Melbourne, Australia, where he eventually began working for an American engineering company. As an avid traveler, this role provided him an exciting opportunity to travel to the United States, and he was assigned to join the company's Springfield, MA office as part of a rotational program. When Eric arrived to Springfield in 1988, he quickly became involved in the Hartford Bridge Club and the Springfield JCC Singles Club, at the latter of which he would meet his future wife, Sharon Cohen. When Eric met Sharon, it quickly became clear that he would be staying in the Western Massachusetts area for much longer than he initially anticipated. The two were married in Ottawa, Canada in 1990 and raised their children Gillian and Alizah in the Springfield/Longmeadow Jewish community.

He was predeceased by parents Gwen and Eric Barker and aunt Marjorie Hearn. He is survived by wife Sharon Cohen, children Gillian and Alizah Barker, mother-in-law Miriam Lieff, and Australian and Canadian extended family.

The graveside service will be held on Sunday, November 8 at 10:00 am at Temple Beth El Cemetery.

Donations in his memory can be made to Temple Beth El or Australian Wildlife Conservancy (USA).