Liz Barnes was a dedicated attorney who 'wanted to help people,' father says

Oct. 3--Elizabeth D. "Liz" Barnes was remembered by her father Saturday as a smart, funny, kindhearted young woman who idolized her late mother and became a lawyer "because she wanted to help people."

She was also a highly competitive athlete and sports fan who loved the Buffalo Bills so much that she would wear a "I Hate Tom Brady" T-shirt to a party populated by New England Patriots fans.

Buffalo attorney Richard J. Barnes could not hide his pride when talking about his beloved daughter. He spoke to The Buffalo News about 22 hours after the worst moment of his life -- when he learned that his daughter and brother, attorney Stephen Barnes, were killed in a Genesee County plane crash.

Elizabeth Barnes' uncle was piloting the plane that went down late Friday morning. Stephen Barnes had flown to New Hampshire to pick up his niece so they could attend a planned 90th birthday party for Marian B. Barnes, the mother of Richard and Stephen Barnes.

"We're kind of shattered here today," Barnes told a reporter during an emotional telephone interview. "But I appreciate the opportunity to say a few words about my wonderful daughter. She was amazing. I was so proud of her."

Elizabeth Barnes, 32, was working as a government lawyer in Boston, where she served as an assistant regional counsel with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. A native of Orchard Park, she had previously worked as a criminal prosecutor for the Middlesex County District Attorney's office, near Boston.

After graduating with honors from prestigious George Washington University Law School, Elizabeth Barnes "could have made big money working at a large law firm," her father said.

"But she wanted to go into government service, because she wanted to help people," Richard Barnes said. "Liz was inspired by her mother."

Her mom was Deborah N. Sorbini-Barnes, who died of cancer in 2006. Sorbini-Barnes, 51, was a popular and highly respected attorney who had prosecuted cases for the Erie County District Attorney's office, the State Attorney General's office, and finally, the U.S. Attorney's office.

"Liz adored and idolized her mom, and I believe that is the reason why Liz always wanted to be a lawyer," Richard Barnes said. "Even though Deb was a prosecutor, she was a very fair person. She had integrity. She always wanted a fair outcome for everyone involved in a case."

His daughter was the same way, said Richard Barnes, who is now married to Erie County Judge Suzanne Maxwell Barnes.

Elizabeth Barnes was a graduate of Orchard Park High School, where she starred in soccer, softball and basketball.

Academically, she was one of the top graduates of her high school class. She then got a scholarship to the University of Rochester, where she briefly played on the soccer team but quit to concentrate on her studies.

She also received a scholarship to attend George Washington University Law School, her father said.

She always loved Boston and moved there to pursue a career as a prosecutor after graduating from law school, Barnes said.

"She loved Boston but she did not love the Patriots," he said with a laugh. "She was a huge Bills fan, and she would torment her friends by wearing a 'I Hate Tom Brady' T-shirt to parties in Boston, with all these Patriots fans."

He said his daughter loved children and would have loved having a family someday.

"She also was very close to her grandmother. She talked to my mother on the phone almost every day," Barnes said.

Barnes said his daughter was excited about flying to Buffalo with her uncle to attend her grandmother's 90th birthday bash, which was to be held at Stephen Barnes' home.

Richard Barnes, a Cellino & Barnes law firm partner, was at the law firm's downtown office Friday when two of his colleagues stepped into his office and told him that his brother's plane had crashed.

"My friends didn't know at the time that my daughter was on the plane, too," Barnes said. "I told them Liz was on the plane, and I literally collapsed to the floor. It was the absolute worst moment of my life."

Barnes said the aftermath of the crash has been an extremely painful time for him and family members -- especially Liz's brother, Brian, and Liz's grandmother.

"My mom was getting ready to celebrate her 90th birthday with all her loved ones, and this happens. In one instant, she loses her son and her granddaughter ... This is so hard for her," Barnes said.

And it's a difficult time for him, too.

"You don't want to bury your children," the attorney said with a sob. "You just don't."

Prominent lawyer Stephen Barnes and niece killed in Genesee County plane crash

Stephen E. Barnes, 61, 'driven by performance,' helped build Cellino & Barnes into powerhouse firm

Elizabeth D. Barnes, attorney at HHS, died with uncle in plane crash

What we know about the crash that killed Stephen and Elizabeth Barnes

Pembroke man heard 'whining noise,' then 'big boom' as Barnes' plane crashed

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