Obituary: Barry M. Dufault, 71, Newport Police Officer, Wickford Yacht Club Commodore

Barry M. Dufault, 71, of East Greenwich, died Monday, January 25, 2016 at RI Hospital. He was the loving husband of Donna (Jones) Dufault. Born in Newport, he was a son of the late Irving L. Dufault & Mary E. (Lyons) Dufault.

Mr. Dufault was a graduate of Johnson & Wales Culinary Institute where he earned his bachelors degree. A talented chef, Mr. Dufault worked at various restaurants, cruise ships, and college dining facilities.

He taught culinary arts at New England College and worked as a chef and instructor for the Connecticut state prison where he won the award of vocational teacher of the year. He was the founder of the California Culinary Academy. He also was a chef on a number of cruise ships.

He served as a Newport Police Officer for seven years, proudly served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War, was the Captain of the HMS Rose, and worked for Military Sealift Command and Maritrans tug boat company. He was also Commodore of the Wickford Yacht Club.

Barry was a longtime talented musician who enjoyed playing blues guitar, teaching others to play and singing with his brothers. He once played back up for Bob Dylan.

Along with his adoring wife, he leaves his children: Barry C. Dufault and his wife Heather of Johns Creek, GA, Heidi Edleman and her husband Keith, Becky Jarzabkowski and her husband Jeff, plus step daughters Rebecca Dale Roberts and her companion Jamison Fisher of Portland, OR, and Judith Roberts Hayes and her husband Scott of Austin, TX,. He is the herished grandfather of Tyler Dufault and Emry Dufault, Jacob Edleman, Alec and Jeff jr. Jarzabkowski and Micahela and Hannah Hayes. He was the brother of Robert Dufault of Portsmouth, RI Gene Dufault of Richmond, RI Raymond Dufault of Mission Viejo, CA, and the late Jerry Dufault.

A Committal Service was Friday, January 29, 2016 in the Chapel of the RI Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 301 S. County Trail, Exeter. A celebration of his life followed in the Wickford Yacht Club.

On lieu of flowers, gifts in his memory to feed the hungry with Providence In-Town Churches Association (PICA), P.O. Box 5639, Providence, RI 02903 or to a charity of your choice will be appreciated.