I first met Les at a Sierra Club meeting in Bellingham sometime in the early '80s, and later learned that he was a friend of dear mutual friends, Dick & Shirley Hayes. I often would see Les around Ferndale, usually at the post office we would chance to meet and stop to say hello.
He was always fun to converse with ... very philosophical, deep thinking and cared, really cared about the world and the community. He told me that his father on his deathbed had asked him to "Take care of Mother" ... and he thought a lot about those words. He loved his Mother and his Grandmother, his Godmother, the Mother Mary, mothers in general, and our home on Mother Earth. And he yearned for fathers: his father, his grandfather, the fatherlands of Hungary and Mongolia, and the relationships he had with his God son and other children in his life.
I was fortunate to spend some quality time with him on the last year of his life. It was painful to see him ill, but his countenance and courage were strong and peaceful. His final days were like a glowing sunset, gradually slipping away while he thought about his loved ones and about the future of the country and earth.
He gave so much to help make the community and world a better place, he created family with the people he met and loved, and will remain as close to each of us anytime we see the color yellow ... which of course permeates everything. Les loved Haikus, Yellow, and his five themes of Love, Study, Work, Play, & Teach ... what a wonderful person, a gentleman, a mentor, a friend, an inspiration and a glowing light. I feel so fortunate for having known him, and only wish the time could have been longer, but am extremely grateful, and the world is a better place because of Les Farkas.
Yellow leaves falling ...
We will fondly remember
Mr. Les Farkas
Seeya :)