Ben Barash was a friend of mine.  He was also a friend of the West of Fairfax neighborhood and the larger Fairfax neighborhood.  Ben was the General Manager of the Fairfax Theatre until 2008 when his family situation necessitated he move back to upstate New York.  I too had worked at this theatre when I was a student up the street at Fairfax High School.  He and I shared not only a love of the historic 1929 art deco Fairfax Theatre but the movies we played.  In 2009, I started a campaign to save the Fairfax Theatre.  Ben was my first ally.  It did not matter he was on the other side of the country.  His vision and enthusiasm was contagious.  We fought well. 

Please visit the obit page for Ben in which you can see dozens of comments by Ben's many friends (be aware - this is a commercial site which sells flowers)
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/democratandchronicle/obituary.aspx?n=benjamin-a-barbash&pid=149593039