Obituary: Barry Noel Hyman

Barry Noel Hyman, beloved husband, father and grandfather passed away on April 27, 2023, of stroke-heart syndrome. He was born June 24, 1938, in Chicago, Ill., to Annette Cooper Hyman and Irving B. Hyman. In 1945, the family moved to Miami, Fla. where Barry grew up, loving every moment. He became an Eagle Scout in 1952, an achievement of which he was always proud, and graduated from Miami High School in 1956. He then attended The University of Miami on a full scholarship.

After three years of premed studies, he attended Duke University School of Medicine from which he received his Doctor of Medicine degree. Dr. Hyman continued his medical training with an internship and residency in internal medicine at Emory University and Grady Hospital. He then served as an officer in the United States Air Force for two years. He received the Air Force Commendation Medal for outstanding service in Osan, Korea, in 1966. Upon completion of his service, he returned to Atlanta for his residency in ophthalmology at Emory University.

In 1968, during this residency, he married Ellen Balser. After the birth of their daughter, Laura, the family moved to Houston, Texas, for additional training in internal medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. With medical boards in both internal medicine and ophthalmology, Dr. Hyman joined the staff of Baylor College of Medicine, applying his expertise in both fields.

By the time their second daughter, Karen, was born, Houston had become home. Barry carved out an amazing career combining medicine and ophthalmology. He was appointed to be a member of the Joint National Committee of the National Institute of Health which provided the guidelines for the treatment and prevention of hypertension and was one of the earliest practitioners using Doppler Sonography, a bedside noninvasive method of the assessment of carotid artery disease.

He was recognized as a specialist by the American Society of Hypertension, and was president of the American Society of Diabetes, Houston. He was published in numerous Peer Review Journals, served on many national committees, and lectured and conducted symposiums throughout the country.

All of his life, he pursued learning and remained a prolific reader. Barry served on numerous committees at Congregation Beth Israel in Houston and was a founding board member of Holocaust Museum Houston. During their marriage, Barry and Ellen enjoyed traveling to destinations all over the world. Barry sought the countries with Michelin three-starred restaurants enjoying every one he visited.

With his retirement in 2015, Barry and Ellen returned to Atlanta completing a full circle filled with happy years and wonderful memories. Dr. Hyman is survived by Ellen, his wife of 54-plus years; his children, Laura and Allen Graber, of Atlanta, Ga., and Karen and Alan Schoellkopf of Dallas, Texas; grandchildren, Finn Graber and Eloise Graber, of Atlanta, and Mary Ellen Schoellkopf, Amelia Schoellkopf and Tripp Schoellkopf of Dallas; brothers and sisters-in-law, Jack and Pat Balser, and Ron and Barbara Balser; numerous nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews and a great-great-niece; plus a number of cousins and dear friends.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to The Meyer and Roslyn Balser Tower of Jewish HomeLife, 3150 Howell Mill Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30327-2108 or the charity of your choice. Arrangements by Dressler’s, 770-451-4999.

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