[davebarish]

I was found abandoned, inside a parked car at the Meadows Horse Race Track (Horse Harness & Buggy Racing) in Meadowlands, PA, on or about the 26th of July 1965, by a couple from the local area returning to their car that evening, after patronizing this business. The Pennsylvania State Police were dispatched and did an investigation with negative results as to whom the birth parents were. My actual birth date, name and birth parents were and are still unknown. The authorities believed that I was born between July 22, 1965 and the date & time I was found. From the Race Track, I was taken to the Cannonsburg Hospital - Cannonsburg, PA, where the nurses named me "Justin". From the hospital, I was placed by the Washington County CYS Agency - Washington, PA, in the adoption/foster home of Mr.& Mrs. Gaylord Danley - Washington PA. The Danley's named me, "David Kent Meadows", after the race track. From there, I was placed up for adoption and around September 14 1967, the Family of John Allen and Marian Kay Barish Jr.(John Allen Barish Jr. & Marian Kay Selmon) of Burgettstown, PA, finalized the adoption process. They named me, "David John Barish". They had one natural daughter to them, Cynthia Kay prior to adopting me. Cynthia's birthdate is October 25, 1961. They also had two children after Cynthia, that were stillborn, Greg Allen and Lisa Marie, prior to adopting me. After my adoption, they adopted another child, a female that they named Yvonne Marie(Vonnie). She was in a foster care home, after Washington County PA CYS removed her from an abusive homelife. I am unsure of my age at the time she was adopted, but remember going to the foster care home when her adoption was finalized and she could be placed with us. I believe I was around 6 or 7 y.o.? Yvonne's birthdate is July 31 1964. There were newspaper articles about my abandonment, in the Washington Observer-Reporter - Washington, PA and other local papers in the tri-state region. John attended Union High School-Burgettstown, PA - Waynesburg College-Waynesburg, PA (played on the Yellow Jackets football team) - served in the United States Army as a Military Police Officer(played on the U.S.Army football team) - played semi-pro football for the Wheeling Ironman-Wheeling, WV, along with the actor John Amos, from the T.V. show "Good Times" - played for the NFL Washington Redskins - then worked for Stark/Atlas Van Lines-Burgettstown, PA where he retired from. He passed away in July of 1997. John and Marian married and lived briefly in Weirton, WV, before moving to Paris, PA, where Marian still resides. Marian (Selmon) Barish graduated from Weir High School-Weirton, WV. She worked briefly as a secretary, for Stark/Atlas Van Lines before having Cynthia. She left there to be a homemaker and then returned to work later, as a secretary for Hanover Township - Washington County, Hanover(Florence/Burgettstown) PA. My information is very limited and all other options have been exhausted, as to finding out whom my natural birth parents were/are. I have court records and none make available my natural birth parents, due to the migating circumstances. An ad was run in the local papers, by the Attorney George Hanna and the proper agencies involved during the time period of abandonment, seeking to have the birth parents come forward and make claim, with negative results. I am hoping to find out my family health history (hereditary diseases). I am married now and have 4 grown children. This is a very unique case, that if anyone had any information concerning this, would know immediately and whom was/is involved. I ask anyone that has any useful information or knows of anybody that does, regarding my particular case, please make contact with me. Please take a moment to look at my information at the following link.

http://registry.adoption.com/records/467207.html

Thank you,
Dave Barish®©™

[davebarish]

I ask anyone that has any useful information or knows of anybody that does, regarding my particular case, please make contact with me. Please take a moment to look at my information at the following links below.

I also have pictures attached to my original post from 3/20/2006, added some baby pictures to this reply and have others in my photo album on this site.

http://registry.adoption.com/records/467207.html (My Profile Information)

http://photos.adoption.com/browseimages.php?c=88 (My Photos)


Thank you,
Dave Barish®©™

[eastendmommy]

Dear Dave, I don't know what to say, I have never read a story like yours before. I have no advice for you, wouldn't even know WHERE to begin, just wanted you to know that I hope that you find some answers to your many questions. I am sorry for your circumstances; it breaks my heart to think of it... I'm a birthmother and I cannot imagine the "Why's?" of your particular situation. Hugs, Tammi

[davebarish]

Tammy,
Thank you very much for your thoughts and words of encouragement.

Dave~

[Poolside]

Dave: I too hope you find the answers you need. Whoever placed you there knew you would be taken care of. It seems like you are doing everything you can to find them.

Albeit in appropriate on my part, your birth parents must have been good looking . Perhaps someone will recognize your look.
Best wishes, good luck, and God Bless

[davebarish]

Poolside,
Thank you. You are to kind and I appreciate the compliments.

Dave~

[southemissouri]

have you thought of looking at yearbooks in the area and trying to contact some of the people in the pictures to ask if they knew of anyone pregnant in school?

[davebarish]

SM,
While I appreciate your attempt to offer advise, it would be a fruitless task to undertake. There were at the time, quite a few major roads and now a major interstate that run close to the race track. There are so many schools that are in this area and with all the publicity throughout the newspapers and other media during this time frame, I am sure if that were the case, it would have came to light and been investigated by either the local or state police. Besides that, so much time has passed and with people getting, married, moving, divorced, dying and all those factors added in, it would be near impossible to make that kind of extensive search. I am more apt to believe it was someone passing through the area, instead of someone that local. Thanks for the thought though.

Dave~

[sunnyfromNY]

If I were you, I would forward all of the information you have to the major daytime talk shows. They do stories about situations like yours periodically... putting your story on national tv might just trigger someone to come forward.

I can remember a story about an infant left in a car to be found in WI - I think Oprah ran her story. Not sure how it came out... if she ever found her history or not.

You're doing the right thing by posting information all over the internet. Keep us informed. I wish you the very best luck.

[davebarish]

Sunny,
Over the years, I have picked up the phone numerous times and got as far as dialing the number, for a few of the major talk shows, only to hang up. I am not sure I want to go that far or not. I don't want to get shoved into such a grand publicized meeting, if it were to happen, for the 1st time. Great advise though. Thank you so much.

Dave~

[lookingfr fam]

I would suggest placing an ad in the newspaper in and around the town you were left at. i would not assume that just because it was close to major interstates that it was someone just passing through. I also know you stated that there was an article printed at the time, however, it's been some time now. Peoples feelings change. i think it is worth a shot!

Good luck

[Born1944]

Welcome! Your pictures are a great touch. Hopefully someone will recognize your features. (My father looks like the bmoms family ALOT.)

I agree with looking 4fm. Just before I located my fathers bfamily I wrote an ad for the local paper. I went to place it, got busy and the same day found them just before I had sent it! (So I never placed the ad.) BUT......

***** Have you thought of just contacting the newspaper and asking them to do a follow-up on your story? Advise them that you wish to NOT have to have a public meeting should your bfamily be found, but be given a chance to express your story to the public in hopes of gaining new information on where you may have come from. Someone may actually have known something and now be willing to come forward with info from the town. Maybe in the follow-up they can give your email address and/or website, etc. (You may wish to create a yahoo or hotmail or just a seperate email address from your current one in case you get spam eventually.)

Just a thought!
Blessings, Tina

[krielly]

Great advice here, particularly the suggestions about getting local newspapers to publish a follow up story. I agree that a talk-show format is probably just too wierd, this is far too personal

Will be thinking of you and hoping you can find some answers soon!
PS: what a cute kid you were!!!!!!!!!

Take care
Karen

[davebarish]

Karen,
Thank you for the comment and compliment. I think 3 people with the same thoughts, on the same subject, can't be all that wrong and will follow through with the newspaper. Lisa (my wife) says the same thing about my baby pics (the only ones I have), then asks. "what happened to that cute, shy, quiet little boy?" ....LOL.

Dave~

[davebarish]

Tina,
After reading your post and that from lookingfr_fam, I have decided to see if I can contact the paper that ran the original story, online and do just that. It can't hurt and at this point, it could only help more. Thank you,

Dave~