This memorial website was created in memory of our loved one, "The Chief" James Farrell, 82 years old, born in Tonawanda NY on January 21, 1940, and passed away in Sebastian Fl on September 10, 2022. We will remember him forever.
Jim was a true "renaissance man" and could accomplish anything he set his mind to. At a very early age he was known as "Fudd" as he taught himself how to fix and rebuild cars by "fuddling around" with them. This desire to learn and figure things out for himself ultimately was passed on to home repairs, computers, beer/wine making, and the creation of fish ponds and bird feeders. Jim’s passion for adventure and new experiences led him to be a globetrotter with his wife Diane. Starting with a honeymoon in Acapulco, there were a plethora of cross country road trips with his family, many jaunts to Canada and the Caribbean, five Disney cruises and a five-country European road trip. Jim’s creativity and thirst for travel collided in the mid-1970s and led him to convert a school bus into a fully functioning RV, complete with bunk beds, a kitchen, and bathroom. Jim was a die-hard Buffalo Bills, Sabres, and New York Yankees fan.
Jim dedicated his professional career to a line of service as a firefighter where he progressed from volunteer in 1962, rose to the rank of Captain in charge of training at North Tonawanda New York Fire Department in 1978 and to eventually Fire Chief of Canandaigua New York Fire Department in 1983. Jim retired as Chief in 1997 to serve as a fire administrator for Skokie, Illinois Fire Department. In 2001, Jim returned to his Fire Chief role of the city of Augusta, Maine, serving 3 years before hanging up his helmet for good and retiring from the fire service. Jim was an active member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs throughout his fire career. He eventually retired to Barefoot Bay Florida.
He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Diane; his sons Jeff, John, Corey, and Aaron; his sisters Myrna Blair and Marcia Farrell-Hunt, and his four grandchildren.
Celebrations Of Life will be held in Florida and New York - dates to be sent later.
