Obituary of Fred Whitcomb Farwell

Fred Whitcomb Farwell of Stamford, Connecticut, died peacefully at his home on February 1, 2011, at the age of 100. He was a tall man, who will be remembered for his sense of humor, his quiet manner, his thoughtful speech, his beautiful baritone voice, his patriotism, his love of baseball (particularly the Yankees), his love of the outdoors, his vegetable garden, his interest in family history, and his passion for rocks and fossils. Mr. Farwell was born in Keene, New Hampshire, on November 9, 1910, son of Hermon Waldo Farwell and Elizabeth Whitcomb Farwell. He was educated in the Leonia, New Jersey public schools. He received a BA in American History and an MA in Geology from Columbia University. In 1937 he married Katharine Doane Pier of New York City, whom he had met at a Wyoming geological fieldwork camp several summers earlier. From 1937 to 1941 he worked as a geologist for the American Smelting and Refining Company in Mexico. He taught for a year as an assistant professor at the Colorado School of Mines, and during World War II served in the Strategic Minerals Program of the U.S. Geological Survey, working in various regions of the Rocky Mountains. From 1946 to 1972 he worked at the Research Laboratories of the American Cyanamid Company in Stamford and continued working as a consulting mineralogist after his retirement. His professional affiliations included the American Institute of Mining Engineers, the Geological Society of America and the Mineralogical Society of America. From 1946 to 1951 Mr. Farwell lived in Rowayton, Connecticut, where he was a member of the Norwalk Auxiliary Police and the Rowayton Civic Association, serving one year as chairman. In 1951 he moved to Darien, Connecticut, where he lived until 1998. He was active as a volunteer in the Boy Scouts of America's Alfred Dater Council, served on the Darien Auxiliary Police Force as well as the Inland Wetlands and Conservation Commissions. He also sang in the choir at St. Luke's Church, and was a member of the Darien Senior Men's Association, serving two years as president. From 1999 until his death, he was a resident and charter member of the Edgehill retirement community in Stamford. In his retirement, he enjoyed traveling, including such diverse destinations as Greece, New Zealand, Alaska, Germany, the Colorado (Grand Canyon), the Danube, and the Mississippi rivers. Mr. Farwell is predeceased by his wife Katharine Pier Farwell, his sister Alice Farwell McCann, and one great-grandson, He is survived by his brother Hermon Farwell of Pueblo, Colorado, and by his four children: Nancy Beals of Hamden, Connecticut, Calvin Farwell of West Dummerston, Vermont, Elizabeth Harman of Bethlehem, New Hampshire, and Roy Farwell of University City, Missouri -- as well as by fourteen grandchildren and twenty great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at St. Luke's Church, 1864 Post Road in Darien on Saturday, March 19, at 2:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society 372 Danbury Road, Suite 159, Wilton, CT 06897. Arrangements are being made by the Lawrence Funeral Home of Darien. Funeral Home: Edward Lawrence Funeral Home 2119 Post Road Darien, CT USA 06820