Our View: Missing BAD Photos

In our digital archive of photos, some of the best ones are labeled BAD. It was the quirky signature of Barry A. Donahue, whose ironic initials branded his work.

 Barry, who passed away last week, was a unique guy. He’d always ask what the big news was in his hometown of Brew-stah, exaggerating his already notable New England accent, picked up in Wuss-stah, where he was born. He loved sharing tales about the people he’d met, the places he’d seen and the events that made news in his decades in various newsrooms. He was a creative force, but also a bundle of institutional knowledge — always packaged in casual clothes and boat shoes with no socks, regardless of the weather.

 At a time when this newspaper was working hard to establish itself as the hometown paper in Orleans, we turned to respected professionals like Barry and former Orleans reporter Ed Maroney to help us gain our footing and build credibility. It was a privilege to have his photos in our paper, and to have his occasional presence in our newsroom. Eventually, in a sign of his wisdom, Barry began turning down photo assignments more regularly, chiefly because he was spending time with his beloved grandkids. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones.

 In a time when the local newsrooms of Cape Cod are dwindling in number and the ranks of seasoned local reporters have thinned, having BAD blood in The Chronicle family, even briefly, was a blessing.