Barry Lewis Kroos

Barry was a kind, loving and lovable man. He was born September 17, 1949 in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Herbert & Gladys (Katcher) Kroos. He grew up in Valley Stream, New York, in a 1950s suburban childhood idyll. His best friends “from the neighborhood,” Howie, Steve, Brian, Rich S. and Richie C., spent their days riding bikes, playing baseball, and bothering their mothers for snacks. They vacationed together in the Catskills every summer and remained close until the end of his life. Barry left New York during college for the South, and spent the rest of his life in Memphis and Central Florida. He had a wild young life working at the original Friday’s in Memphis, one of the first bars to serve liquor by the drink in Memphis, and the main late-night gathering place of the local rock scene in the early 1970s. He can be glimpsed briefly – we think, because ever modest Barry could never confirm nor deny whether a certain mustachioed bartender seen briefly in profile was indeed him – in the rock-n-roll documentary “Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me.” His signature cocktail was the eponymous Krooser and his buddies called him Kroos Control. Later in life he was a successful salesman who relied on strong personal relationships with his customers using charm, a warm smile, and one of the thickest New York accents ever, just like from behind the bar. His lifelong work in the hospitality industry, coupled with his love of good food, made him a devoted patron of independent restaurants. A one-man Zagat, Barry could tell you the best neighborhood hole-in-the-wall for New York-style pizza, Cuban sandwiches, fresh sushi, and everything in between. He was an avid Orlando Magic fan, an excellent chef, and Pappy to his grandchildren, who adored him. Barry was quite ill for the last year, but throughout these trials he retained a ready smile and unflagging hope for something good around the corner. He made several amazing recoveries that astounded his doctors, and he made the most of the time he had. He died on July 11, peacefully and at home, with his wife Eileen Mulherin at his side. He is survived by sister Joan Goldman and brother-in-law Bruce Goldman; daughter Jenny Kroos; stepdaughters Erin Butler, Colleen Butler, and Megan Butler; nieces Diana Ganatra and Laura Cianciulli; and grandchildren Audrey Kroos, Archie Tuman, August Tuman, and Frederik Alfes. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations in Barry’s name to the Restaurant Workers Community Foundation’s COVID Emergency Relief Fund. A NY-based charity, they provide grants and loans to restaurants and workers, a cause he cared deeply about. The family invites you to leave a message of remembrance on the Tribute Wall created in his memory.

Barry Lewis Kroos

September 17, 1949 - July 11, 2020