A West Haven man with cystic fibrosis whose bucket list wish to meet President Donald Trump brought people together across political party lines has died.
Barrett was born with cystic fibrosis and only expected to live into his early teens. At age 44 with his future uncertain, he and his sister started putting together a bucket list. Barrett’s desire to meet the president captured the attention of the first family, and the president made a personal phone call to him on March 5.
"You're my kind of man, Jay...I'm very proud of you," Trump told Barrett during that call. "You keep that fight going; we both fight."
Barrett, who was in home hospice care, passed away in his sleep last night, according to a Facebook post from his sister Brigette Hoskie.
Hoskie, who is a local councilwoman and a Democrat, had been working to help Barrett achieve as many items off his bucket list as possible. She used social media to draw attention to her brother’s story.
Before his death, Barrett also received calls from Eric Trump and Housing and Urban Development executive Lynne Patton, who set up the call with the president.
