Richard A. “Dick” Farrell of Marblehead passed away on June 2, 2023, at age 90. He was the beloved husband of Nancy L. Farrell, with whom he shared 67 years of marriage after being high school sweethearts.
He was born in Marblehead and was the son of the late Edward W. Farrell and Louise Farrell (Odiorne). He was the loving father of four children, Mark E. Farrell, Elizabeth A. “Betsy” Scott, Patricia L. Docherty and David J. Farrell.
He is also survived by grandchildren Michael Farrell, Elizabeth Farrell, Chanel Docherty, Lindsey Scott, Caitlin Scott, Isabella Farrell and Chloe Farrell. He was predeceased by grandson Corey Docherty, and he is survived by nieces Nancy Clinton, and Candy, Debbie and Doreen Farrell.
Dick grew up in Marblehead and graduated from Marblehead High School in 1950. He was a sports buff who was very interested in figures, mainly batting averages and field goal percentages.
But when he went to Boston University, his knack with figures led him to focus on financial figures, and he graduated from the college of School of Business Administration at Boston University in 1954.
After college, he enlisted in the Army as the Korean War was winding down. He was stationed in France and then Germany. In 1955, Nancy flew to Germany, and they were married in Ramstein, Germany.
Dick obtained his master’s degree in business administration while working for the First National Bank of Boston. He presided over the venture capital arm of the bank, and later he and a coworker at the bank left and formed their own company, Farrell, Healer & Co., where Dick was the president and managing partner of the Venture Capital Fund of New England.
He is known for providing the support and bank capital for starting the businesses of Eastern Mountain Sports, Outside Magazine and Stadium Sky Cam. He served on several financial boards, including the Marblehead Savings Bank, the board of governors of the National Association of Business Investment Companies, and the John Hancock Financial Company.
Dick was a leader in the building of “Farrell Court,” an apartment complex for senior citizens and the disabled, which was built behind his house at the time on Pond Street. The vision of this project was started by his father, Edward Farrell.
Watching sports games and keeping track of all sports stats was Dick’s passion, and he is known for attending the most Marblehead High School football games in Marblehead history.
Somehow, between his large family, career and sports, he managed to find the time to also be very involved in many community activities, especially those that served youth. A strong advocate of education equality, he was chairman of the Marblehead School Committee and was the influential vote in starting the school METCO program.
He was one of the original founders of the Magicians Gridiron Club in 1983, started the Marblehead Midget Football program where he refereed for many years, and in 2008 he was inducted into the Marblehead Football Hall of Fame.
Dick was a youth baseball coach for 14 years and started and was president of the Farm League. “Farrell’s Field” at Gatchell’s Park is named after Dick. He received the Monsignor John P. Carroll Community Service Award in 1999 for “Outstanding Contribution to the Youth of Marblehead.”
Dick was very loving, kind, generous and easy going. He will be missed terribly by his large family, his wide circle of friends and the community of Marblehead.
Visiting hours will be held on Friday, June 9 between the hours of 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Eustis & Cornell of Marblehead, 142 Elm St. A private veteran’s burial service will be held. A public funeral service will be held at the Old North Church, 35 Washington St., Marblehead on Saturday, June 10 at 11:30 a.m. Immediately after the church service, a public memorial gathering will be held at the King Hooper Mansion, 8 Hooper St., Marblehead.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy for the Farrell family may be shared at eustisandcornellfuneralhome.com.
