In Celebration of
Kenneth Barry Sparks
April 14, 1944 - January 19, 2025
It is with great sadness to announce that K. Barry Sparks (aka. Sparky) passed away, surrounded by his family, at Dorothy Ley Hospice on Sunday, January 19th, 2025.
Reuniting with his wife, Alma Sparks (nee Howe) (predeceased); and his parents, Ken and Nan Sparks (predeceased), he is survived by his loving partner, Judy Allison; daughters, Nicole Sparks and Stephanie Sparks; step-daughters, Allison Kenney and Blair Kenney and their families; granddaughters, Georgia Gaffar, Stella Gaffar and Maddie Sparks; great-grandson, Zayden Sparks; siblings, Mel Sparks and Sandi Kennedy; and many close friends and family.
Barry was the first born to Ken and Nan Sparks of High River, AB. After high school, he began working for the Royal Bank of Canada, which took him all over Alberta and eventually sent him to the University of British Columbia where he received an Honours Bachelor of Commerce and Business Administration. Upon graduation, the bank sent Barry to Montreal with his bride, Alma. It was there that they became parents to their first daughter, Nicole, before being transferred to Ottawa, where they welcomed their second daughter, Stephanie. The Sparks family settled in Toronto after another transfer and Barry continued to work for the Bank until the late 1980s. At that time, he left his role as Vice President-Government & Business to start his own business, eventually focusing on small cap private investment banking. He sat on the Board of Directors of a diverse set of businesses. He retired as the Chairman of the Board and as a Director of NamSys Inc. in 2024 after 27 years with the company.
Barry loved the game of golf. During his time in Toronto he was a longtime member at St. George’s Golf and Country Club, as well as the Highwood Golf and Country Club in High River, AB. More recently Barry become a member of the American Seniors Golf Association and the International Seniors Association of Golf, where he travelled the world playing golf at various prestigious clubs. He was also a longtime member of the National Club in downtown Toronto, where he met regularly to socialize with friends and work colleagues.
Barry became a proud grandfather in 2006. He often boasted about his granddaughters and all of their accomplishments and accolades. He attended many dance competitions and was very excited when his first granddaughter, Georgia, began her degree in Health Sciences at Western University this past fall.
Barry and Alma loved to travel. They vacationed regularly at their usual spots in Maui, HI; Nassau, BS; Punta Mita, MX; Casa De Campo, DR; and even took an elite trip around the world in 2011 with their close friends.
After Alma’s passing in 2017, Barry was fortunate to find love and companionship with Judy. Barry and Judy continued to travel up until this past fall, when they went to the South of France for a Seniors International golf tournament.
A special thank you to Dr. Halliday and the entire ICU staff at Etobicoke General Hospital for his care for the last few weeks and to Dorothy Ley Hospice for making him comfortable in his final days and providing a calm space so his family could say goodbye.
A Visitation will be held at Turner & Porter Butler Chapel on Saturday, February 1 from 2pm to 5pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Dorothy Ley Hospice.
Reuniting with his wife, Alma Sparks (nee Howe) (predeceased); and his parents, Ken and Nan Sparks (predeceased), he is survived by his loving partner, Judy Allison; daughters, Nicole Sparks and Stephanie Sparks; step-daughters, Allison Kenney and Blair Kenney and their families; granddaughters, Georgia Gaffar, Stella Gaffar and Maddie Sparks; great-grandson, Zayden Sparks; siblings, Mel Sparks and Sandi Kennedy; and many close friends and family.
Barry was the first born to Ken and Nan Sparks of High River, AB. After high school, he began working for the Royal Bank of Canada, which took him all over Alberta and eventually sent him to the University of British Columbia where he received an Honours Bachelor of Commerce and Business Administration. Upon graduation, the bank sent Barry to Montreal with his bride, Alma. It was there that they became parents to their first daughter, Nicole, before being transferred to Ottawa, where they welcomed their second daughter, Stephanie. The Sparks family settled in Toronto after another transfer and Barry continued to work for the Bank until the late 1980s. At that time, he left his role as Vice President-Government & Business to start his own business, eventually focusing on small cap private investment banking. He sat on the Board of Directors of a diverse set of businesses. He retired as the Chairman of the Board and as a Director of NamSys Inc. in 2024 after 27 years with the company.
Barry loved the game of golf. During his time in Toronto he was a longtime member at St. George’s Golf and Country Club, as well as the Highwood Golf and Country Club in High River, AB. More recently Barry become a member of the American Seniors Golf Association and the International Seniors Association of Golf, where he travelled the world playing golf at various prestigious clubs. He was also a longtime member of the National Club in downtown Toronto, where he met regularly to socialize with friends and work colleagues.
Barry became a proud grandfather in 2006. He often boasted about his granddaughters and all of their accomplishments and accolades. He attended many dance competitions and was very excited when his first granddaughter, Georgia, began her degree in Health Sciences at Western University this past fall.
Barry and Alma loved to travel. They vacationed regularly at their usual spots in Maui, HI; Nassau, BS; Punta Mita, MX; Casa De Campo, DR; and even took an elite trip around the world in 2011 with their close friends.
After Alma’s passing in 2017, Barry was fortunate to find love and companionship with Judy. Barry and Judy continued to travel up until this past fall, when they went to the South of France for a Seniors International golf tournament.
A special thank you to Dr. Halliday and the entire ICU staff at Etobicoke General Hospital for his care for the last few weeks and to Dorothy Ley Hospice for making him comfortable in his final days and providing a calm space so his family could say goodbye.
A Visitation will be held at Turner & Porter Butler Chapel on Saturday, February 1 from 2pm to 5pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Dorothy Ley Hospice.
Funeral Details
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Visitation
Turner & Porter - Butler Chapel
4933 Dundas Street West, Etobicoke, ON, M9A 1B6
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Saturday, 1 Feb 2025 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM