In Loving Memory of Robert Barends, a dedicated Ride team member

Robert Barends, of Buffalo, a Web marketing manager, died Friday in Buffalo General Medical Center after a short illness. He was 38. Born in Lewiston, he was a 1992 graduate of Lewiston-Porter High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in 1996 from the College of Wooster.

After college, he worked for the Philadelphia Education Fund in Philadelphia and took part in the Boston-to-New York AIDS fundraising bicycle ride.

Returning to Buffalo in 2000, he worked as a Web developer for the Buffalo branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York until 2004, then was Web marketing manager for New Era Cap Co. for three years. Since 2007, he was Web content and email marketing manager for the Roswell Park Alliance Foundation.

Mr. Barends was an elder and member of session at Westminster Presbyterian Church, was active in the choir and served on various church committees.

A former vice president of the Parkside Community Association, he helped organize “Wines on Wednesday,” now a Parkside social tradition.

An avid cook and baker, he was known for his Christmas cookies. He also enjoyed traveling and physical fitness.

Surviving are his partner, James C. Rusk; his mother, MaryLou; a brother, Michael; and two sisters, Rachelle Hathaway and Julie Fleming.

A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in Westminster Presbyterian Church, 724 Delaware Ave.

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