Thomas M. Barnes

Thomas M. Barnes, cousin and friend

Olean- Thomas M. Barnes, passed away Thursday, June 6, 2024, at Mercy Hospital in Buffalo, after a long illness.

Tom was the son of the late Ralph and Helen Unfus Barnes of Portville.

Tom graduated from Portville Central School in 1974. He held a Bachelor of Arts degree from Cornell University (1977), a Master of Business Administration degree from Cornell University (1980), and a Juris Doctor Degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo (1982). He taught at the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, Mercyhurst College, Ithaca College, Alfred State College, and Alfred University.

He was employed by the Southern Tier West Regional Planning and Development Board in Salamanca from 1986 until his retirement in July of 2022. At Southern Tier West, he was responsible for bringing tens of millions of dollars of state and federal grants to southwestern New York for a wide range of projects benefitting regional residents, businesses, and communities. He helped start and develop funding for a number of non-profit corporations, including developing the initial fund capitalization for the Southern Tier West Development Foundation. He held various positions with these non-profits over the years. He was the contractual representative for the US Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration for southwestern New York. He authored a number of significant strategic planning documents, including the annually updated official economic development strategy document for southwestern New York. He also was part of the team responsible for the creation of the Southern Tier Extension Railroad Authority, which owns the railroad real estate on the east-west and north-south railroad lines that traverse the southern tier and intersect in Olean. He served for many years as corporate secretary and project manager for the railroad authority.

Tom served several seven-year terms as Chairman of the City of Olean Planning Board, and served on a number of City Committees, including the Brownfield Redevelopment Committee and the Comprehensive Plan Planning Committee.

He was an original incorporator and Board member in 1997 of the Cattaraugus County Arts Council, now the Tri County Arts Council, and served as President for twenty years, from the inception of the council until his resignation from the Board. In 2016, he received a special award from the Cattaraugus County Arts Council for the service to and support of the arts. The Cattaraugus County Arts Council’s lifetime achievement award is also named the “Thomas Barnes Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Award”.

In 2009, the Cattaraugus County Planning Board awarded him the Brooks Patterson Community Leadership Award, which is given to provide countywide recognition to leaders and volunteers who make lasting contributions to the people and communities of Cattaraugus County and its region. His award notes his “outstanding leadership and years of dedicated service in Planning, Development and The Arts in the City of Olean, Cattaraugus County and the Southern Tier West Region of New York State”.

Tom played the tenor saxophone in several local bands, most notable a twenty-year stint in the Mojo Hand Blues Band. He was an avid reader and writer, a Yankees fan, and loved music, his family, and his friends. He had long lasting friendships with lifelong friends.

Tom never married, and had no siblings; he is survived by a number of first cousins and friends.

He was predeceased by his parents, Ralph and Helen.

At Tom’s request, there will be no visitation or funeral services. Burial will be at the convenience of the family in Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Portville.

Memorials if desired, may be made to the Tri-County Arts Council, the Portville Free Library, the Cattaraugus County SPCA, the Olean Public Library, or the “Barnes Fund” a scholarship fund for the Portville Central School Graduates, managed by the “Cattaraugus Regional Community Foundation”.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Guenther Funeral Home, Inc., 1303 E. State St, Olean.

Online condolences can be expressed www.guentherfh.com