DATE: Sunday, June 29, 1997                 TAG: 9706270202

SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN             PAGE: 03   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: 20 QUESTIONS 

                                            LENGTH:   65 lines

BARNEY ANNAS RETIRED STOCKBROKER, SUPPORTER OF THE ARTS

On anyone's short list of reasons why the arts have flourished in Hampton Roads, Barney Annas would rank near the top.

The retired stockbroker - who turned 70 June 11 - has been in the forefront of just about every arts initiative in the region, from fine arts to the opera and now ballet, too.

Annas is the immediate past president of Virginians for the Arts, which lobbies the Virginia General Assembly for funds for arts groups.

Each January, more than 300 members statewide bend legislators' ears.

``We descend on them like the plague,'' he says.

Annas has been a member of the executive committee and board of the Virginia Opera, the search committee for the new director of the Contemporary Art Center of Virginia and the advisory board of the Virginia Ballet Theater.

He grew up in ``Old Suffolk'' - before it became a city and he moved to Princess Anne County - before it became Virginia Beach.

Full name: V.M. ``Barney'' Annas

Hometown: Suffolk.

What brought you to the Beach? Transferred due to promotion to assistant manager of MetLife in 1957.

Birthdate: June 11, 1927

Occupation: Retired stockbroker and officer of Merrill Lynch.

Nickname: Barney (since age 2).

Marital status: Happily married to Carolyn for 50 years this September.

Children: Two - Carolyn Louise Kelsey and Teresa Lynne Annas-Simpson (two grandchildren - Sidney Harrison and Anne Calvert Kelsey).

What is your idea of a perfect day off? Playing 18 holes of golf or taking Carolyn to lunch at the Surry House in Surry.

Last smart thing you did: Retired five years ago (no more stress).

Last dumb thing you did: I went from the bedroom down into the garage and forgot why when I arrived.

Favorite meal: Strip sirloin (medium), baked potato and salad or anything Italian.

Favorite movies: ``Battleground,'' ``War and Peace'' and ``Gone With the Wind.''

Favorite song: ``Stardust.''

Last book read: ``The Last Tsar'' by Edvard Radzinsky and ``Truman'' by David McCullough.

Hobbies: golf

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I would go back in time and spend more quality time with my two daughters while they were young.

Secret vice: If I told, it would no longer be a secret.

Favorite restaurant: Gus', Town Point Club and Harbor Club.

Favorite night on the town: Dinner and the Virginia Opera.

Favorite TV shows: ``Seinfeld,'' ``Frazier'' and ``20/20.''

Favorite sport: PGA golf and NFL football

Last vacation: Celebrity cruise to Bermuda last October.

Worst job: Selling insurance door to door 40 years ago.

Of what achievements are you most proud? I'm proud of having made many, many friends through serving as a volunteer worker in many diverse organizations in Tidewater over a 40 year period. Board of visitors Old Dominion University, chairman Azalea Festival, Chamber of Commerce, etc.

What would you like as your epitaph? Gone, but very unhappy about it. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by CHARLIE MEADS

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu