farragutpress mourns passing of editor/publisher
A Vietnam combat veteran and New York native, Dan Barile was well known in the Farragut community for his journalistic professionalism, intelligence, honesty and sharp wit.
Editor/publisher of farragutpress for more than 13 years with almost 20 years experience as a professional photographer and general assignment reporter at the paper, Barile died suddenly Wednesday morning, Dec. 21. He was 64.
“We are very saddened by the passing of Dan Barile, it was a shock to us. Dan was very dedicated to the farragutpress and serving the Farragut community. He was our editor/publisher for nearly 14 years,” said
Doug Horne, owner of Republic Newspaper, Inc., parent company of farragutpress. “It’s a big loss. Dan was always eager to cover the story of Farragut and their citizens and he was a fine man. I’m sure the Lord is greeting Dan with ‘well done, thou good and faithful servant.’
“We will sure miss Dan Barile.”
“I can honestly say I loved Dan Barile,” Phil Dangel, owner of The Shrimp Dock, said. “He was one of the throwbacks to the journalists that I grew up with. He was
honest, he was sincere, he
told the truth the way he
saw it.”
“I am so sorry to hear of the passing of Dan Barile. He has been a friend and a great business partner to me and our chamber for many years,” said Bettye Sisco, Farragut West Knox Chamber of Commerce president/CEO. “He was loyal to the farragutpress and worked hard to help to make it a successful newspaper.”
“Dan showed a genuine caring for the community of Farragut through his ongoing news coverage of the schools, sports, community events, business accomplishments and Town government activities,” David Smoak, Town administrator, said. “He was a fixture at the farragutpress, a leader in his vocation and will be sorely missed.”
“This is a shocker. He’s been so good to us at Farragut High School and the community,” Donald Dodgen, FHS athletics director, said. “It’s just a
tragic loss.”
“It’s really hard to sum up a relationship in just a few words,” Tony Cox, president of Republic Newspapers and Barile’s boss, said. “Dan and I shared a common love of photography. He loved to give photography pointers to anyone who would listen.
“In the office he was professional and fair,” Cox added. “He always had the interest of the community at heart. He was a true friend and I will miss him.”
Cutting his journalistic teeth as assistant editor for The East Tennessee Catholic, 1992-1995, Barile earned a Master of Science degree in communications from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, concentration in news/editorial, in 1992.
Barile also served as photographer for UT CVM Photo Lab, 2000-2001, and publicity director for UT School of Music 2001-2003.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications from The University of Tennessee, Chattanooga in 1989. Barile secured a Certification as Professional Photographer from the New York Institute of Photography in 1988.
“Dan, to me, always seemed pretty cool under pressure,” said Tim Williams, a manager with Matlock Tire Service locations and chairman of Board of Directors for FWKCC. “Very methodical and business-oriented. He was very active and visible in the community.”
“Dan was good to me. I respected him and thanked him for all he did for me,” Dot LaMarche, former Farragut vice mayor, said. “I will miss him.”
“This comes as a total shock,” David Purvis, co-owner of Farragut Wine & Spirits, said. “I’ve had a long friendship with Dan. He served on the board of [Farragut Business Alliance] with us. Was a supporter of the community.”
Nick Drewry is a former president of Republic Newspapers and Barile’s former boss who, along with Horne, hired Barile as editor/publisher. “Dan and I worked together for a long time,” he said. “I thought he was a fantastic photographer. He will be missed not only by the people at the newspaper but by many people in the community who he was involved with one way or the other.”
“I had the pleasure of working with Dan for many, many years in my position with the Town,” said Sue Stuhl, Town’s Parks & Leisure Services director. “I enjoyed his particular brand of humor and his love of getting into the details of a news story.”
