The Tampa native also served four terms on the School Board.
By ALEXANDRA ZAYAS
Published November 11, 2005
Glenn Barrington, a career educator whose frank, no-nonsense attitude crowned his four terms on the Hillsborough County School Board, died Wednesday at Tampa General Hospital of complications from a stroke. He was 82.
Many remember Barrington as a "scrapper" who gave his opinion in few, succinct words. He stood for strict discipline with a no-nonsense attitude, and he wasn't afraid to stand alone.
Others saw a softer side of Barrington, reflected in his love of the Hillsborough students he served from 1955 until he retired in 2004.
He was a coach, a teacher, an administrator, a father, a carpenter, an artist, a thinker and more.
"I can tell you what Glenn is. Glenn is for me a Renaissance man," said longtime School Board member Carol Kurdell.
A Tampa native, he learned how to run a tight ship in the Navy from 1942 to 1948. He fought in the South Pacific and earned a Presidential Unit Citation and seven battle stars.
He later earned his bachelor's degree in psychology from Rollins College in Winter Park, and he played football at Rollins, the University of Florida and the University of Miami. He earned his master's degree in social sciences from the University of South Florida.
Barrington began teaching in Hillsborough County schools in 1955, at Jefferson, Hillsborough and Leto high schools.
In the late 1960s, he was president of the Classroom Teachers Association as the teachers went on strike. Colleagues remembered his determination then, and later as a School Board member, to give everyone in the district a voice.
"He cared for people, whether they were a teacher or an administrator or a bus driver or a custodian. It didn't matter," said former superintendent Earl Lennard. "Everybody counted as far as he was concerned."
He went on to become dean at Robinson High, assistant principal at East Bay High and assistant principal at Hillsborough High.
He retired in 1982 after 32 years in public education. He was first elected to the School Board in 1988. He was re-elected in 1992, 1996 and 2000, retiring in 2004.
Superintendent MaryEllen Elia said the board still called him for advice.
Lennard said he admired Barrington's steadfast leadership.
Among the highlights of Barrington's 16 years on the School Board were the end of mandatory busing, a move to school choice, the advent of magnet schools and the push to build schools.
"I think he was an anchor," Lennard said. "He was absolutely a rock when it came to things like his devotion to the school district."
He was also a devoted father, and died with his three daughters - Nancy Norquist and Jane Kenyon of Tampa, and Beth Cingletary of Forsyth, Ga. - at his bedside.
Barrington is also survived by eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
His family will receive visitors at Blount & Curry Funeral Home at 605 S MacDill Ave. A memorial service will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Seminole Heights United Methodist Church at 509 E Hanna Ave. There will be a reception immediately following the service at the church. There will be no public graveside services after the memorial.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in his memory to the Hillsborough Education Foundation or the Hillsborough High School Alumni Association.
Times staff writers Melanie Ave and Jeffrey S. Solochek contributed to this report. Alexandra Zayas can be reached at 813 226-3354 or at azayas@sptimes.com
