Tuesday, December 12, 2023

Death of John M. (Jack) Farrell

I received the following obituary from George McCumber.

John “Jack” Farrell passed away with his wife Cathy by his side on December 5, 2023. He was 81 years old. He was born on November 14, 1942, in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of Laurence and Edith Farrell.

Jack and Cathy grew up in the same neighborhood in Boston. Jack always had his eye on Cathy and he told all his friends that he would marry her one day. During his childhood, Jack ’s father would take him up to Prince Edward Island, Canada, for summer vacations. Shortly after he graduated from high school, Jack tried out for the Boston Red Sox. Out of the many potential recruits, Jack was one of ten who were selected by the Red Sox to advance to the final try-out for a pitcher position. However, he had already signed up to join the Air Force. While serving in the Air Force from 1960-1964, Jack was primarily stationed in Anchorage, Alaska, where he loved the surrounding wildlife. He shared fantastic tales of grizzly bear encounters, icy water plunges, salmon fishing, northern lights, and seeing the beautiful American West from the sky.

Upon returning to Boston in 1964, Jack spotted Cathy’s sister Nicky in Egleston Square and asked if Cathy was married yet. Happy to hear that she wasn’t, Jack called up Cathy and a year later, on September 11, 1965, they were married. They settled in Boston and Jack worked at a brokerage firm and became a trader. In 1967, Jack and Cathy welcomed twin sons. Becoming a father brought him pride and joy. Jack was known as a great conversationalist with a mischievous sense of humor and he connected with many people, including his in-laws Angelo and Mary.

In 1975, after passing a rigorous exam process with flying colors and receiving a nomination for the position of Foreign Service Officer from House Majority Leader (and future Speaker of the House) Congressman Tip O’Neil, Jack became a diplomat for the Foreign Service of the U.S. Department of State and began one of the most exciting chapters of his life.

Jack ’s first assignment as a Foreign Service Officer was to Brussels, Belgium. Jack and Cathy adapted well to their new life abroad and thoroughly enjoyed traveling together with their sons. Jack ’s next assignment was to Moscow and in 1978, they welcomed a daughter born in Berlin, Germany. His subsequent assignments were to Vienna, Kuwait City, London, Zagreb, Istanbul, and Luxembourg. Jack made friends everywhere he went and he loved taking road trips and train journeys to explore. He had particularly fond memories of his time in Croatia and Slovenia; he often spent time in Dubrovnik on the Adriatic Sea and in the Julian Alps. During those 21 years of living abroad, Jack traveled throughout Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.

Jack received several awards during his time in the foreign service and was recognized for his “25 years of service and dedication to the government of the United States”. He had the honor of meeting several U.S. presidents and foreign dignitaries. Upon retiring, he moved to Maine where he was happy to live near his son John and his grandchildren. During the 27 years that Jack lived in Maine, he and John became the best of friends. Jack and Cathy often traveled to Québec and one of his favorite places to visit was Lac-Mégantic.

Jack is survived by his wife, Catherine Farrell; his children, John Farrell and his wife Tracy, James Farrell, and Juliana Farrell and her husband Chris.

He leaves behind his beloved grandchildren; Matthew, Nicholas, Thomas, Danielle, Patrick, Jill, Hugh, and Eve.

A viewing at Pinette Dillingham and Lynch Funeral Home in Lewiston, ME will be held on December 13 from 10:00 a.m. to Noon. Burial will follow, with full military honors, at Maine Veterans Cemetery 2, Augusta, ME on December 13 at 1:00 p.m.

Wednesday, December 06, 2023

I received word from George McCumber of the following:

I was informed late today (December 5, 2023) by his wife Catherine that John M. (Jack) Farrell passed away this afternoon at his home in Poland Springs, Maine. Jack had been suffering from congestive heart failure for some time. I will advise further details as I know them.

Condolences may be sent to his wife, Catherine at the following:

Catherine Farrell
P.O. Box 432
Poland Spring, ME 04274
Tel: (207) 998-2841
Jack.the.Farrell@gmail.com

Wednesday, December 06, 2023

Death of Maryfaith (nee Gastel) Blanchard

Maryfaith Blanchard (nee Gastel) of The Villages, age 78, passed away peacefully on December 4, 2023 at Shands hospital in Gainesville, FL from complications with Sepsis (Pulmonary Embolism).

Maryfaith was born in Pittsburgh on November 25, 1945, and was the youngest of three children born to Ralph and Irene (nee Nagy) Gastel.

Maryfaith moved from Pittsburgh, PA to Palm Springs, CA, with her family when she was little. She considered this her hometown. She attended St. Theresa's Catholic School through the 8th grade and graduated from Palm Springs High School in 1963 where she was a member of Teen Angels, an organization of young women, who did charitable work in the Palm Springs area raising money for the Angel View Crippled Children’s Hospital. She also worked as a fashion model for Robertson’s Department store until she moved with her family to McAllen, TX in 1965 and became a local TV fashion model for an upscale women's clothing store. While in Palm Springs, she met her future husband Philip Blanchard and they were married in Mission, TX in Nov 1966.

She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Philip Blanchard and three sons, Ted (Allison); Matthew (Lesli); John (Dawn); and one daughter Candace Jimerson (Jonathon) and six grandchildren: Autumn (Thomas) Campbell II, Jacob Blanchard, Justin Blanchard, Trinity Barker, Jayden Barker, Noah Blanchard and two great grandsons Landon and Liam Campbell; one brother Robert Gastel (Bonnie, deceased); also numerous nieces and nephews.

Maryfaith was predeceased by her parents Ralph and Irene Gastel and one brother, Dennis.

Maryfaith accompanied her husband on assignments with the U.S. Department of State to La Paz, Bolivia (1967-1969); Paris, France (1969-1971); Manila, Philippines (1971-1073); Kinshasa, Zaire (1973-1974); Kuwait City, Kuwait (1974-1975); Washington, D.C. (1975-1980); Bonn, Germany (1980-1983); Cairo, Egypt (1983-1985); Washington, D.C. (1985-1987); London, England (1987-1990); and Albuquerque, NM (1990-1992). Maryfaith and her husband remained in New Mexico after his retirement in 1992, until they moved to The Villages in 2000. She enjoyed traveling and meeting people and making new friends wherever she lived.

Maryfaith was very outgoing and gregarious to everyone she met. She was a beautiful soul whose smile was infectious. She was kind, generous and full of love for her family and friends. She was also very proud of her Hungarian heritage (mother’s side). She was able to visit Budapest, Hungary while on a Viking river cruise in 2016. This is some- thing that she had always wanted to do, to see where her grandparents came from.

She was also extremely devoted to her family, grandchildren and great grandchildren being a homemaker. She enjoyed walking, water aerobics, and socializing with family and friends. But most of all, she enjoyed spending time with her devoted husband Philip. She will be deeply missed by her family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, please donate in Maryfaith’s memory to Haven of Lake and Sumter Counties, 2600 South St., Leesburg, FL 34748, tel: (352) 787-5889.

Services are scheduled for Monday, 11 December 2023 at the Hiers-Baxley funeral home in the Villages, FL. Viewing will be from 12-1 followed by memorial service from 1-2. A reception will be held immediately afterwards at the funeral home's Life Event Center.

Phil's contact information is: 1901 Hoyos Ct., The Villages, FL 32159, email flpmb1901@gmail.com.