Barry Alan Cave

Major Barry Alan Cave, Army, Ret., 78, passed away at his home in Mesquite, Nevada on December 7, 2025. He is loved and missed by his family and friends.

Barry was born in Fairfield Connecticut to Warren and Ursula Cave. Barry’s formative years were spent in Fairfield, where he attended St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School and Roger Ludlow High School. Barry always loved art and began drawing and painting from a young age. His family was active in politics in Connecticut, and he gained an early appreciation for politics, debate, and History. He joined the army and did a tour in Vietnam in 1968 where he sustained injuries that lead to health complications and his passing at age 78.

Barry had a career in the Army for more than two decades, taking his wife Mary and 5 children; Jason, Cable, Liza, Emily and Garth, throughout the United States. Barry was proud to serve as an Assistant Professor of Military Science at The University of Notre Dame and as Chief of Recruiting for ROTC for the US Army. His gregarious nature earned Barry many new friends along the way. He loved gatherings of family and friends, and his young military recruits or ROTC students were often at the dinner table with the Cave family, especially Thanksgivings. After his retirement, the Cave home in Iowa was a known stop for LDS youngsters on their mission as Barry and Mary always had a place at the dinner table for them.

In his retirement, Barry took up painting and filled his home with paintings of lighthouses and landscapes. He loved watching sports, especially baseball. As a Red Sox fan, he never failed to call his brother Wayne, a Yankees fan, every time their teams played. Barry loved jokes, sharing wise and witty quotes, flirting with pretty women, flowers, and surrounding himself with beautiful things.

Barry is survived by his spouse Mary Cave Floridia, Children Jason Stokes (Nicole) Minnesota, Cable Stokes GA, Elizabeth Schweitz (Nathan) Utah, Emily Cave (Robert) Australia, Garth Cave (Samantha) Floridia, brothers Wayne Cave (Beverly) Floridia, and Joe Cave (Jennifer) Virginia, 20 grandchildren, and 3 great grandchildren.

A military service with full honors will be held at the chapel at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City, Nevada on July 24, 2026 at 8:40 am.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in Barry’s honor to Visual Art Institute