Dr. Barrett (Barry) Hopkins Childs, age 68, of Riverdale, New York passed away peacefully on July 9, 2025 surrounded by his family and loved ones.
Born December 12, 1956 in Pompton Plains, New Jersey, Barry was the son of the late Gordon Eads Childs and Beverly Barrett Childs.
Barry was a physician, dedicating over forty years to oncology research and patient care. He graduated from Boston University in 1978 with a double major in chemistry and physics and went on to earn his medical degree with Alpha Omega Alpha distinction from Rutgers Medical School in 1982. He completed his internal medicine residency at Montefiore Medical Center, followed by fellowships in medical oncology, hematology, and bone marrow transplantation at Memorial Sloan Kettering.
After more than a decade as an attending at MSK, Barry transitioned to pharmaceutical research, serving as the Vice President of Oncology Research at Sanofi Pharmaceuticals. In 2013, he joined Bayer as the Head of Oncology & Hematology Research and Development, where he continued his lifelong commitment to developing a cure for cancer. He never lost hope a cure could be discovered in his lifetime.
Barry’s greatest joy was being a devoted husband to his wife, Leslie, with whom he celebrated 40 years of marriage in May. He was a proud father to his three children and grandfather to three granddaughters.
An avid sports fan, Barry held Jets season tickets for over forty years and remained a lifelong supporter of the New York Mets, Knicks, and Rangers. He also carried a special fondness for the West Virginia University Mountaineers, the University of Michigan Wolverines, and the Cornell University Big Red.
Barry was also an active member of his local community, coaching Riverdale Little League Baseball for over 20 years.
Barry is survived by his wife, Leslie Anne Childs; his children, Diana Childs Minert (Dylan), Dr. Daniel Patrick Childs (Kelsey), and Megan Childs Grant (Michael); and his grandchildren, Arden and McKenna Minert and Winona Grant.
Barry loved music and the arts. He adored classic rock and enjoyed discovering emerging bands and voices. His radio station of choice for over 20 years was WFUV. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to WFUV: https://wfuv.secureallegiance.com/wfuv/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=MAIN&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=r7ZyK9McKTWqK20krF35cqUOstgWaB20&_gl=1*1po1x1c*_ga*OTc0Mzg0ODkyLjE3NTI2Njc4MjE.*_ga_MSJ6KTE3VH*czE3NTI2Njc4MjAkbzEkZzEkdDE3NTI2Njc5ODQkajU2JGwwJGgxMjk2MTQ5NDc0