Barry Edward Lefton, age 83, passed away June 20, 2024, beloved husband of 63 years to Lois Berkowitz Lefton, devoted father of David (Karen) Lefton, Rick (Betsy) Lefton, Jimmy (Laurie) Lefton & Ben Lefton (Jaime Willis), dear brother of Mendy (Nancy) Lefton, loving grandfather of Nicole (Jay) Short, Carly, Lev, Claire, Abby, Nathan, Grace, Alex, Danielle, Mallory, Eliana, Brian and Aiden Lefton. He will be greatly missed by his family, many beloved cousins, nephews, nieces, and friends.
The first son of Ben and Charlotte Lefton, Barry’s early years were spent in Ft. Thomas and in the Essig family home on Fourth Street in Newport Kentucky where he lived with his parents and grandparents, Clara and Max Essig. When Barry was five, the family moved to Forest Avenue in Avondale and then to Burton Avenue in North Avondale where he spent most of his childhood. He became a Bar Mitzvah in 1953 at Adath Israel Synagogue on Reading Road and, in 1957, the family moved to Corvallis Avenue in Roselawn as many in the Jewish community at that time had been moving north of the city.
Barry graduated from Woodward High School in 1958, where he was very active in sports and made many of his lifelong friends. In June of 1959, Barry and his best friend Max Cohen went to Coney Island for a day of fun in the sun, and while there bumped into Deedy Mutchnik who they knew from Woodward High School who was there with her cousin Lois Berkowitz who attended Walnut Hills High School. Barry and Max enjoyed spending time with Deedy and Lois so much that day that they decided to ask out Deedy and Lois on a date but were unsure of how they would pair up on the double date. Upon picking up Lois and Deedy for the date, Lois quickly jumped in the front seat next to Barry as she had clearly made her choice…and the rest was history!
Barry and Lois were married on June 11, 1961, at the Netherland Plaza in the Hall of Mirrors. The newlyweds moved into an apartment on Vera Avenue in Golf Manor to start their life together and had their first two of four sons, David and Rick, while living there surrounded by many friends who lived on Vera as well. Expecting their third son Jimmy, Barry and Lois knew that they needed a bigger home for their expanding family. In 1967, the family moved to a house they had built on Elbrook Avenue in Amberley Village, and in November of 1971 they welcomed their fourth son, Ben Lefton, and the Lois and Barry Lefton family was complete.
Professionally, Barry had worked in sales for his uncle Ben Youkilis at his store, Ben’s Jewelers, in Elmwood Place, but eventually was wooed away by his father-in-law, Nathan Berkowitz, to work at his store, Provident Camera Shop, in Downtown Cincinnati. Barry was a natural salesman and became very successful, running the business and eventually became the owner of Provident Camera with his beloved brother-in-law attorney Norman Barron, who helped Barry have the resources to grow the business with his skillful investment strategies. Barry knew he needed a right-hand man he trusted to help him run the growing business, and his younger brother Mendy Lefton was the perfect fit. Barry and Mendy were a great team, working side by side for over 30 years. Barry’s son Rick joined the family business upon his graduation from Ohio State in 1987. His son Ben joined Barry, Mendy and Rick after graduating from OSU in 1994, and Mendy’s daughter Cindy joined the Lefton boys at Provident Camera shortly thereafter. Together, with the help of several devoted long-time employees and powered by Barry’s instinctive leadership skills, they grew Provident Camera into a successful multi-million-dollar retail business serving professional and amateur photographers from across the tri-state area. Working closely with his family was very fulfilling and meaningful for Barry and he passed the torch to his sons Rick and Ben upon his retirement in 2003.
In his golden years, Barry, along with his wife Lois, enjoyed traveling extensively with Max and Deedy. They especially loved their vacation homes in Hilton Head and Boca Raton because it allowed them to spend more quality time with their 13 grandchildren who were their pride and joy. Family was everything to Barry. The lessons taught to him by his parents and his many cherished Essig and Lefton aunts, uncles and cousins helped shape his life and instill in him a deep love of family that he has passed as his legacy, to the next generation and beyond.
Barry was a kind and generous man who dedicated the final years of his life to his beloved wife Lois. He will be remembered for his devotion to family and friends. Barry will live on in the acts of goodness he performed, and in the hearts of those who will cherish his memory.
Zichrono L’bracha — May his memory be a blessing and may he rest in peace.
