Actually, I heard it was for a completely different reason. An alcohol/flying incident, which is why Barry was teetotal after the 80s or so.
I did an instrument rating renewal with Barry around '94 or '95, and also two or three check flights in his Pitts, so that I could hire it privately.
For all that this incident, and the problems leading up to it were terrible, Barry was a fascinating person to meet, a gifted pilot, and he did a great deal of good for the GA industry.