Shura Bary, longtime PR rep to air freight industry, dies

From the late 1960s onward, he represented numerous air freight carriers and forwarders in old fashioned way.    Shura Bary died at his home in San Francisco with his wife Ann by his side on Aug. 6 from complications of diabetes. He was 85.
   He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1930 and graduated from New York University.
   He started his journalism career covering Broadway theater. From there, he joined the public relations division of a large advertising company in New York and his first client was Emery Air Freight, followed by Airborne.
   In the 1970s, he moved to San Francisco and set up The Bary Group. He rapidly became the publicist for numerous air freight carriers and freight forwarders, including Burlington Northern  Airfreight, Profit Freight Systems, Consolidators International Inc., Circle, Rightoway, Target Airfreight, Lep, Geo Logistics, DGX and Express Air Unlimited. He even represented a San Francisco bank and a Los Angeles toy company for many years. 
   Until his death, he continued to craft press releases and other commercial write-ups for the air freight industry.
   “The industry will be poorer for his musing always ghost written and credited to others,” said Julian Keeling, chief executive officer of Consolidators International, Inc.
   In addition to his wife, Bary is survived by two sons, Andrew and Brian, and four granddaughters.
Upcoming FreightWaves Events
Compliance

Brokerage Compliance Symposium

The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.

October 26, 2026
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN
Register Now
Awards

F3 Awards Dinner

The night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.

October 26, 2026
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN
Register Now
FreightTech

F3: Future of Freight Festival

Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.

October 27, 2026 – October 28, 2026
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN
Register Now
Compliance Brokerage Compliance Symposium Oct 26 • The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN

The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.

The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now
Awards F3 Awards Dinner Oct 26 • The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN

The night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.

The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now
FreightTech F3: Future of Freight Festival Oct 27 – Oct 28 • The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN

Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.

The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now

Chris Gillis

Located in the Washington, D.C. area, Chris Gillis primarily reports on regulatory and legislative topics that impact cross-border trade. He joined American Shipper in 1994, shortly after graduating from Mount St. Mary’s College in Emmitsburg, Md., with a degree in international business and economics.