John Patrick Farrell

John Patrick Farrell, 83, died peacefully on August 9, 2025, in hospice in Denver, CO, after living with Alzheimer’s disease for the past several years. His devoted wife of 45 years, Anne Knowlton Farrell, was with him at the time of his passing.

Born in Scranton, PA on August 3, 1942, to Michael J. (“Al”) and Elizabeth (“Libby”) Donovan Farrell, John was raised working in the family’s theater business in Carbondale, PA. He had many tales of the stars that visited the Irving Theater and the antics which took place at the Mid-Valley Drive-In Theater. He attended St. Rose High School where he was known as “Skinny” and played basketball with friends “Squirrel” and “Squeaky.” He learned golf from his father and played countless rounds at Elkview in Carbondale. Later, John would golf courses around the world.

John graduated from La Salle College in Philadelphia, PA in 1964 with a B.S. in Accounting. In 1978 he received his M.A. in Political Science from Villanova University. Following graduation from La Salle, John worked as an accountant and receiver in Philadelphia until, with the assistance of Carbondale’s wily postmistress, he volunteered to join the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War.

John was a dedicated United States Marine Corps Officer from March 1965 to his retirement as a Lt. Colonel in October 1987. Highlights of his multi-decade military career included his tour of duty as a Naval Supply Officer in Vietnam (1966-1967), guarding the U.S. Capitol while serving as Headquarters Company Executive Officer at the Marine Barracks in Washington, DC (1967-1968), and serving as Commander of “I” Battery and “C” Battery at Camp Pendleton (1969-1970), Commanding Officer, Ammunition Company, Supply Battalion, Okinawa, Japan (1970), Commanding Officer, First “8” inch Howitzer Battery, Twentynine Palms, CA (1970-1972), Weapons Instructor, The Basics School, Quantico, VA (1973-1975), Marine Officer Instructor, Villanova University NROTC (1975-1978), Command and Staff College, Quantico, VA (1978-1979), Operations Officer, Okinawa, Japan (1979-1980), Program Coordination Officer, Requirements and Program Division, Headquarters (1981-1983), Commanding Officer, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC (1984-1985) and Executive Officer, Recruit Training Regiment, MCRD, Parris Island, SC (1985-1986). He particularly enjoyed mentoring young Marines at Quantico and Parris Island as well as students at Villanova University, where he taught courses in military history.

Following his service in the Marine Corps, John renewed his CPA license and worked in Virginia as the Chief Financial Officer at the Gas Appliance Manufacturer’s Association, the Sisters of Mercy, and the Marine Corps Association.

John was a consummate coach, having honed his skills with Coach Rollie and the Villanova Men’s Basketball team. He enjoyed teaching basketball and golf to his children as well as his grandchildren and their friends, insisting that a good basketball shot and a good golf shot were both rooted in a solid set-up. He helped his daughter train for field hockey with daily runs, with neither heat nor humidity diminishing his enthusiasm and encouragement. He relished many rounds of golf at Quantico with his favorite golf foursome and was pleased to have parred the Road Hole at St. Andrews in Scotland.

John’s good humor and devotion to his family were unparalleled. Nothing gave him more pleasure than spending time with Anne, “the kids,” and his grandchildren. He loved reading (with a particular interest in American history, drawing parallels to ancient Rome) and supported numerous charities. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother and buddy, Robert Farrell. He is survived by his wife Anne, children Jennifer Elizabeth Farrell (New York, NY), Marie Avery Moses (Denver, CO), and James Byron (“Jeb”) Avery (Denver, CO), son-in-law Thomas Maiden, son-in-law David Moses, daughter-in-law Christine Avery, and grandchildren Kenneth, Helen, Janine (“Jaye”), Alexis, Elizabeth, and Vivienne. He is also survived by his brother Michael Farrell, his sister-in-law Annette Farrell, and sister-in-law Mavis Farrell.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Alzheimer’s Association or one of John’s favorite charitable organizations—Toys for Tots or Breakthrough T1D.

A military honors funeral and burial will take place at Arlington National Cemetery on October 28, 2025, at 11:00am.