John Dennis

Farrell

Gifted Musician

John Dennis Farrell, 81, died March 15 at St Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport. He was the husband of 44 years to Ruth (Tusch) Farrell, who predeceased him. He was born in Bridgeport on January 24, 1927, to Edith (Felix) Farrell and John Henry Farrell.

He is survived by four children, Katherine Pond and husband, David, of Sandy Hook, John H. Farrell and wife, Sharon, of Middlebury, Mary Pratt and husband, Ronald, of Woolwine, Va., and Matthew Farrell and fiancée, Sherry Sheehy, of Ansonia. He leaves behind a loving companion, Marjorie Bucci. Seven grandchildren, Bill Pond, Erica Canfield, John D. Farrell, Sean Pond, Jennie Summers, Michelle Pratt, and Allison Pond; six great-grandchildren, Caitlin Bleau, Samantha Canfield, Aubrey Pond, Kenneth Canfield, Julian Burgos, and Joshua Summers; a brother-in-law, Erich Tusch; and several nieces and nephews, survive him.

Mr Farrell was a graduate of St Ann’s School, Bassick High School, and Fairfield University (cum laude) in 1956. He was a Boy Scout and an altar boy at St Ann’s. He proudly served in the US Navy as a corpsman in both World War II and the Korean Conflict.

Over the years he was employed as a personnel manager at Warnaco and retired from Emson Research in 1994. During his career he was a master of ceremonies for many events and ran successful campaigns for the United Way of Fairfield County.

Additionally, he had a natural gift for music and it was an important part of his life. He had lead parts in the Irish Minstrel Shows at St Ann’s, was the only member who played all the instruments in the St Ann’s Fife, Drum and Bugle Corps. He received a scholarship for music at Fairfield University and was a prominent member of the Glee Club and the Beusonian Barber Shop Quartet. He was also a member of a barbershop quartet, the Parlor Rocks, that appeared on the Pepsi-Cola Playhouse hosted by Faye Emerson. In retirement he combined this gift of music with his fine sense of humor and performed for the sick and infirmed. He was recently honored by the Germania Schwaban Society for the longest continuous membership of 59 years.

He had a passion for playing pool and horseshoes. He will be greatly missed by all his family and many friends.

Funeral arrangements will follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 22718, Oklahoma City OK 73123-1718.

The Newtown Bee        March 21, 2008