Members of the Long Branch community are stunned by the passing of life-long area resident Phillip Barker, who loved children and spent a small fortune on equipping schools in the Philippines.

Barker, the owner of Lakeshore Accounting, passed away on the evening of May 6. He was 74.

The accountant was a friend and acquaintance of many Long Branch residents having served the community at his 3421 Lakeshore Blvd. W. office for about 45-years. He was also the long-time Treasurer for the Long Branch Business Improvement Association.

Barker was born and raised in Mimico, where, he attended Mimico High School and then Humber College to study accounting.

“His sometimes tough exterior masked a warm, charitable heart who loved helping people,” recalls Wayne Gibson, a friend for more than 30-years. “He helped many people and will be greatly missed by the community.”

Gibson says Barker had many loyal clients from his many years of business and always perked up when it came to helping children in the Philippines develop their potential.

He was a founder and director of the Lakeshore Charitable Foundation, which sponsored two schools in the Philippines. He visited that country about a dozen times and was responsible of collecting and shipping dozens of containers filled with books, clothes, food, computers, printers and other gear to help the children.

The foundation had sponsored the Rizal Public National High School and BayBay Central School for more than 12-years. He was in the process of travelling there for an awards celebration before COVID-19 halted the trip.

He will be sadly missed by hundreds of children at the schools and the families there who loved him.

“The children over there have very little or nothing,” Barker would always say. “They are so appreciative to get a book or other item that we throw out in this country.”

He is survived by brother Bill, four nieces and his daughter Katy; described as the love of his life. He did manage to see his wish of Katy graduating from Ryerson University.

A private funeral service was held for family at Ridley’s Funeral Home.