Barry Keith Law

Barry Keith Law of Boxford Massachusetts and Machiasport Maine.

Barry Keith Law, a beloved husband, father, brother, and son passed away peacefully at his home in Boxford Massachusetts on November 1, 2024 surrounded by his loving family: his wife, Ellen; his children Travis, Benjamin (Lorena Herbas), and Kaylee; his sister Kim Grooms; Kolga, his faithful newfoundland, and Tinkerbella, his ever present guardian chihuahua.

Keith was born on October 10, 1964 in Scottsville, Kentucky. Keith was the eldest of three children of Barry U. Law and Reba Faye Goodrum Law and is survived by his parents and siblings Kathy Graves (Tommy) and Kimberly Grooms (Doug). Growing up in Scottsville, Keith was an excellent student and noted pianist, earning admission to study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge Massachusetts.

At MIT, Keith majored in Course 18, mathematics, graduating in 1986. While at MIT, Keith lived in the Atkinson entry of Senior House and worked as part of Project Athena, a campus-wide effort to make the tools of computing available to every discipline at the Institute. Keith was an active member of and french horn player in the MIT Concert band, where he met Ellen.

Keith earned a masters degree in computer science from Northwestern University and, after working with Andersen Consulting in Illinois, returned to Massachusetts in 2002. At ALPHATECH, BAE Systems, and most recently Systems & Technology Research, Keith was a Principal Architect focused on developing and delivering technology prototypes and systems addressing important national security problems. In this role, Keith’s contributions were foundational. He also greatly enjoyed mentoring more junior colleagues, and his guidance and advice have shaped the careers of many developers. Keith's loyalty, camaraderie, and generosity were unwavering – whether it was crunching out a last minute proposal or loaning out equipment, Keith was always there for his colleagues.

Keith was an avid photographer, sharing his enthusiasm for photography with his children during numerous trips throughout the United States and abroad. Keith also shared his interest in marine fish and coral, sharing his passion with his children as an aquarist and often visitor to a wide range of aquariums, with the New England Aquarium, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Shedd Aquarium, and the Georgia Aquarium recommended favorites.

As Keith first stated in Hawaii “Tangs for the Memories” - he will not be left behind or forgotten.

A Celebration of Keith’s life will be held on November 25, 2024 at Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts with visitation starting at 10:30 am in Story Chapel, followed by burial in the family plot at 1 pm. A further remembrance service will take place at the Lyric in Scottsville, Kentucky, to be held on December 7, 2024 starting at 1 pm.

The family would appreciate memories of Keith, in lieu of flowers, to be shared by email to bklaw@alum.mit.edu for inclusion at the services. Donations can be made in Keith’s memory to New England Aquarium, https://www.neaq.org/engage/support/.

Arrangements by the Short, Williamson & Diamond Funeral Home, Belmont swdfuneralhome.com