Man's body found in Severn River

City police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of an Eastport man found floating in the Severn River yesterday morning.

Police were called to the Severn Sailing Association at 311 First St. just before 11 a.m. for the report of a fully clothed man floating in the water. Firefighters responded and recovered the body.

Witnesses were able to identify the man as David Talmage Barnes, 49, of Chesapeake Avenue, a member of the sailing association, police said.

According to the police report, the incident happened between 6 p.m. Saturday and the time the witnesses called. Though police continue to investigate, officials said they do not believe foul play was a factor.

The body was taken to the Office of the Medical Examiner in Baltimore for further investigation, police said.

This morning, Severn Sailing Association was quiet, and about a dozen boats remained in the water in the cold conditions.

Melanie Wenger, Mr. Barnes' next-door neighbor, said he was a bachelor with no family living locally. He had a brother and a sister who lived in other states and his parents teach at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania, she said.

Mr. Barnes was a lecturer at Morgan State University, according to the school's Web site.

"We're very sad about the loss," she said.

She said he had two cats, Cato and Clouseau named after characters in the Pink Panther. He also had a large circle of friends in the area, she said.

Her husband, David Flynn, said they have known Mr. Barnes for at least 15 years and shared a common bond in their cats and love of sailing. Mr. Barnes was a strong activist in the Eastport area, Mr. Flynn said.

"He'd become a good friend over the years," he said.

He said he and his wife had called Mr. Barnes on Saturday to invite him to dinner, but he never returned their call. Mr. Flynn tried to call again yesterday morning, because it was unusual for him not to call back, he said.

"That's when the police came by," Mr. Flynn said.

Mr. Flynn said Mr. Barnes had tied up and winterized his sailboat, a Pearson 30. He said he suspects his friend may have been checking on the boat and somehow fell into the water.

"I really don't know what actually happened to him," Mr. Flynn said.

He described his friend as a "wonderful human being, totally good natured," and as someone who "had a huge heart and wouldn't hurt a fly."

"He was always willing to help," he said. "He did a lot of volunteer work. There's not a mean bone in his body."

Jim Urban also said he was a close friend of Mr. Barnes and knew him for about 25 years.

"He was the kind of person who would drop whatever he was doing and do whatever needed to be done," Mr. Urban said.

He was friendly and would often drop in to say hello, Mr. Urban added, and he was a very giving person. Mr. Urban said the community is working to pull together a memorial service for Mr. Barnes.

"There will be a huge community outpouring on his death," he said.

Mr. Barnes' neighbor agreed.

"We'll miss him," Mr. Flynn said.

Staff writer Scott Daugherty contributed to this report.