Obituary of Gene Bari

Gene Bari was born in 1915 in Homestead, Pennsylvania to Hungarian parents who had come through Ellis Island separately, met through friends, and married in 1910. Gene was named David Eugene Bari Farkas. His older sister, Irene, was born in 1911. She passed away in 2004. His parents, Mozes and Agnes, found music teachers for their children and, from a young age, both studied violin, piano, flute and piccolo. Gene's high school days were filled with honors in music, and he was chosen for the National Honor Orchestra at age 16. At 18, he formed a 13-piece orchestra which was broadcast on radio from the Commodore Hotel in Pittsburgh. Turning down a scholarship to Cornell, he moved to New York City and was featured for two years at the Rainbow Room as a solo violinist playing classic, Hungarian and Gypsy melodies. His orchestra played the dance music of the day, which we think of as the "Big Band" style now. He was known as the "Poet of the Violin." In 1941, he was drafted into the Army, and served until 1946, rising to the rank of First Lieutenant. He was a Special Services Officer, who brought Bob Hope and other stars to entertain General Patton's army which was training in the desert near Palm Springs. He also formed and directed the Infantry Concert Group, from musicians serving in the Army which, at the direction of General Stilwell, toured the country giving over 100 concerts in 74 cities, raising nearly $5,000,000 in Series "E" Bonds. He received the U.S. Treasury Silver Medal Award for this service. The last concert, scheduled in New York City, was cancelled due to the end of the war in Europe, and Gene was in Times Square for the celebration of V-E Day. During the time, he had married Ruth Von Hagen, who was a talented singer and pianist having studied at Julliard in New York. They changed their names legally, and were professionally known as the duo, "Gene and Gwen Bari". Just after the war, they lived in Palm Springs and performed at the Desert Inn, the El Mirador and other top venues of the day in that area. In 1950, they bought a home in Burbank, CA, and continued their careers in the Los Angeles/Hollywood area. In addition to performing together, they each had separate trios and entertained for many years, in addition to doing studio, recording and movie work. He appeared in the orchestra scene in the movie, "A Star is Born," with Judy Garland. Due to arthritis and carpel tunnel syndrome, Gene was forced to quit playing the violin. Gwen moved on with her career and they divorced. Gene then moved to Montrose, CA to care for his mother. While there, he worked for Muller Chevrolet and found a new "talent" in selling new cars. He retired in 1980, and he and his mother moved to Santa Cruz to be near his sister, niece, and family. Gene had an acute memory and loved to tell detailed stories of his life in the music entertainment world. He was a lifetime member of the Professional Musicians Union, Local 47, Hollywood, and a life member of the Beverly Hills Masonic Lodge, No. 528. Gene is survived by his niece, Bonnie (and Lloyd) Williams, his great nephew and niece Gregory (Bianca) and Toby Williams , and great, great-grandnieces, Mila and Edda, and Cleo. The family wishes to thank his dedicated caregiver, George Medina, Jr. At Gene's request, no services will be held, and his ashes will be scattered around Ellis Island and the Statute of Liberty.