George E. Barrick, a beloved teacher, dies at 46

GEORGE BARRICK called the pre-school he founded AKWD. It stands for "Any Kid Will Do."

Those four words pretty much sum up George's approach to educating children. His focus was on discovering the individuality of each child, accepting it no matter how quirky, and nurturing it to bring out the best qualities of every kid lucky enough to come under his tutelage.

The result was pre-school children with high self-esteem, a passion for learning, and a sense of belonging to a larger community in the world.

And they loved him for it.

George Edward Barrick, longtime teacher at the Moonstone pre-school in South Philadelphia before starting his own pre-school in Northern Liberties in 2003, founder of a Reiki school, a talented artist in many mediums and a practicing Buddhist, died July 13 of cancer. He was 46 and lived in Northern Liberties.

A tall, tattooed and pierced man with his own unique idea of hair style, who affected chains and studded belts, George's appearance was a bit startling when people first met him.

Like Daily News' assistant graphics editor Jon Snyder, who took his 5-year-old son to Moonstone and was greeted by George.

"I was frankly a little concerned," Jon said. "However, within a few minutes I was entirely reassured by his gentle manner, and it was obvious by the way the roomful of kids adored him that everything would be OK."

Mindy Nguyen-Balli, liaison to public schools for the Philadelphia Museum of Art, described her first encounter with George when, as a graduate student in early education, she went to Moonstone as an observer.

"I experienced the whirlwind that was uniquely George. He sang, danced, jumped, shouted and laughed with the kids.

"He encouraged them to be exactly who they were and accepted them unconditionally, quirks and all . . . I wanted to be one of his students, too."

Susan and Daniel Behrend wanted to find a place for their 4-year-old Benjamin, where he would be "taken care of and adored."

They found Moonstone and George Barrick answered both their needs.

"He had an amazing approach," Susan said. "Every child was valued by George."

Everything he did with the children was unique. When he read a book to them, he got them to sing the book and dance the book.

"George was one of those people you were lucky to have met," said Christina Mastroianni, office manager of AKWD. "He had this amazing gift with children. He didn't talk down to them."

Her son, Makai, started with George when he was 18 months old. He liked to sing, and George fostered that.

"He saw what the children loved to do and really encouraged it and let it blossom," Christina said.

George taught all four of Joan Esmonde's children.

"My son at the age of 4 1/2 knew the whole circulation system of the body and all the different organs," she said. "George had a model of the human body, and he would have the children sit in a circle and handle each one of the organs.

"He was the best educator I have ever met. He made every parent feel that their child was his favorite student."

George founded the Reiki School and Clinic with Kim Fleisher, in 1999. The facility uses the Reiki system of massage, acupuncture and other methods for easing pain and stimulating energy.

"George had a funny, charming personality," Kim said. "He never seemed to be in a bad mood. He was like a crazy scientist coming up with original ideas to find solutions to any problem."

Linda Conley Soffer, vice president of the AKWD board, said: "He had a sixth sense when it came to working with children. He knew what each one needed to learn, grow and thrive. It was just incredible.

"He gave them a love for learning, and a sense of being part of the community."

"He thought outside the box," said Caren Seltzer-Devine, parent of two children taught by George. "He could bring out each child's uniqueness. My son Sam loved him so much, he asked if he could come back and be his assistant.

"He was a warm, loving person. It came out of his pores."

George was born in Philadelphia to Warren A. Barrick, a former history teacher at Overbrook High School, and the late Jeanne Cheatham Barrick. He grew up in Willingboro and attended John F. Kennedy High School. He was on the swim team and an art editor of the yearbook.

He received a degree in fine arts from the Philadelphia College of the Arts, now the University of the Arts. Over the years, he was a painter, a printmaker and a book designer, and in later years used film and video in his artwork.

He was hired in 1985 by Sandy and Larry Robin, of Robin's Book Store, founders of Moonstone, as an art specialist at the school. He later became director before leaving to start his own school.

Besides his father, he is survived by his sister, Meredith Parker; his stepmother, Carole Barrick; stepsister, Dr. Nancy Sanders, and his partner, Christopher Curchin.

Services: A picnic-style memorial event will be held at noon tomorrow at Liberty Lands Park, 3rd and Poplar streets. *