FRANK WENDELL FARLOW

1940 - 2016

FRANK WENDELL FARLOW obituary, 1940-2016, Brookline, MA

FRANK WENDELL FARLOW

1940 - 2016

BORN

1940

DIED

2016

FRANK FARLOW Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers from Jan. 4 to Jan. 5, 2017.
FARLOW, Frank Wendell Brookline Activist Of Brookline, Massachusetts, died December 30, 2016 at age 76. Frank was born June 5, 1940 in Wilmington, Delaware to Mark and Florence Farlow. He attended Mt. Pleasant High School in Wilmington, where he enjoyed track and began a lifetime interest in running. He met Martha "Marty" Anderson at Swarthmore College and the two were married in 1964. Frank served in the Army Intelligence Corps in Germany from 1962-1965, then obtained his Masters from Harvard University School of Education. Frank and Marty spent two years in Millersville Pennsylvania, where Frank taught languages and enjoyed hosting student discussions at their home, before they relocated to Brookline, Massachusetts. In Brookline Frank translated Russian and German documentation to English and became active in the Boston Audio Society. In 1979 he and Marty helped establish the Brookline Schools Staff Children's Center. Frank developed an active role in Brookline town politics, serving as a member of Town Meeting since 1986, and as Co-Chair of Brookline PAX – a liberal advocacy group founded in 1962 – since 2001. He was also active in Brookline PeaceWorks, attending their Saturday peace vigil in Coolidge Corner since 2003. He drafted and championed several Town Meeting bylaws and resolutions on a broad range of liberal issues. In addition to his wife, Frank is survived by his brother Kent, sisters Anne and Fran, son Jed and daughter-in-law Simone. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Brookline PAX (check only; http://brooklinepax.org/Contact.html) or the ACLU of Massachusetts (https://aclum.org). Visiting Hours: A memorial service will be held at one o'clock in the afternoon on Saturday, February 4, 2017, at First Parish Unitarian Universalist, 382 Walnut Street in Brookline.

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December 29, 2023

John Bassett posted to the memorial.

December 30, 2022

J ARCHER OREILLY III posted to the memorial.

December 29, 2022

John Bassett posted to the memorial.

John Bassett

December 29, 2023

It's just nice to be reminded and to see Frank's picture.
John Bassett

J ARCHER OREILLY III

December 30, 2022

Yes John it is good and well to remember Frank but, there again, how could we every forget him?
Arch

John Bassett

December 29, 2022

It's good to remember Frank!

Jan Preheim

February 10, 2017

Dear Marty,
What a wonderful presence Frank had in the neighborhood and in the larger town. We will miss him, and his wonderful work.
Jan Preheim

George Abbott White

February 2, 2017

Aside from PAX, peace vigils and numerous other public attempts at living one's progressive values, Frank was one of my chief tutors at the semi annual democratic rugby match known as Brookline's Town Meeting.

Diligently working through the mountains of paper prior to meetings and working hard at sorting the wheat from the chaff in the ebb and flow of For/Against/Whatever discussions was an easily confusing occasion every night.

It was always a relief to me, however, when Frank got before the microphone, ticking off the main points, giving weight to the various sides, clarifying, utter seriousness, pause, some humor, pause, and coming down on Yes or No.

I think of Frank as an exemplary public man, in a kind of Roman style we badly need to honor, and recover.

Jim Himes

February 2, 2017

Dear Marty,

Bonnie Carter sent me the sad news of Frank's passing. Currently in Italy, visiting my son for several weeks, I would probably have missed this opportunity to express my heartfelt condolences for your loss. Frank was one of my closest friends in high school and at Swarthmore. We were roommates in the German Dorm our sophmore year, where Frank was much more committed to sticking by the language rule than I was, while of course he was also immersed in his studies of Russian. Truly a gentleman, scholar and liberal in the best traditions.

A wonderful fellow who I'm sure will be missed by many friends and admirers.

With sincerest sympathy,

Jim

January 15, 2017

The only time I met Frank was a few months ago when I ran into you two in the Trader Joe's checkout line. However, for many years I've read and agreed with his letters to the editor and his positions as reported in the newspaper. We all mourn the loss of a good man.

With sympathy,
Debbie Levey

Diana Stevens

January 8, 2017

Dear Marty,

I was so sorry to learn the sad news of Frank's "premature" death. Reading his obituary caught me up with his life of "service" and "walking the talk" and "talking the walk". May your memories of his intellect, his commitment and passion, his devotion to you, his family, and his community give you comfort as you mourn his passing and your loss.
With sympathy,
Diana D.J. Judd Stevens

ANNE MAHON

January 8, 2017

Dear Marty,
We will miss Frank, his gentle soft-spoken way; he was a valuable member of our community and a tireless advocate for social justice and peace. He was one of the first to welcome us to the neighborhood when we arrived, with a knock on the door and an invitation to vote the PAX ticket.
Our deepest condolences to you and your family.
Anne Mahon and Hidde Ploegh

Abby Pollak

January 8, 2017

Dear Marty --

How well I remember the day you and Frank got married! It was gorgeous, your sisters were lovely, you looked delicious, Frank was beyond handsome, and we all went swimming. A terrific wedding, a terrific couple. I've thought of you both so often during the last way-too-many years, and regret not having made contact. I hope our paths cross sometime in the not too distant future? In the meantime, much much love and heartfelt sympathy, Abby

January 7, 2017

Dear Marty and Jed~ I was so saddened to hear of Frank's passing. He was a truly good and intelligent man who cared deeply for all the human causes and values. He pushed me into TM and there I stayed for some 23 years, always appreciative of his efforts on our collective behalf. We will all miss him, his hard work, and his remarkable energy for Precinct 4 and all cherished causes and principles. My and our sincerest sympathies to you both.
~ Ingrid Cooper & John Rich

Julie Anderson

January 7, 2017

Marty and Jed,
I was shocked and deeply saddened to hear of Frank's passing. Marty, I want to just hug you and share some time, find out how you are holding up.

I realized that I have leaned on Frank's political views for as long as I have lived in Brookline, since I'd always take the PAX cheat sheet to the voting both. Frank will always be with me when I vote.

Roger

January 7, 2017

OMG Marty. It is so hard to say anything meaningful at a time like this. But Frank was such a character it'll be hard to fit everything I want to remember about him in this little space. Yes, like everyone else said he was a great and committed citizen and all that, but to me he was a buddy, a friend and a mensch.

You might remember the first time I met him at a dinner for teachers at Baker School; his comments on meeting another teacher's husband (which I can't repeat here) made me choke on my punch. What a sneaky and subtle sense of humor and a phenomenal dead pan delivery. He could have made a fortune as a stand-up comic.

We rarely agreed on any political things, but with Frank it didn't matter. He was always there to help out, no questions asked. That's just the kind of guy he was.

I'm remembering the time we were visiting Brookline for something, and he and Greg were taking heating oil over to a neighbor's house who needed it, one little oilcan at a time! It was freezing, and dark, but he was not going to let that stuff go to waste and, the lady needed so he was out there delivering.

Then there was the time we were at the Outer Banks and he spent hours flying kites and showing Michael and Jed the art and science of kiting.

How many of your current Brookline friends know he was a former champion competitive golfer! I was stunned to discover that when he caught up with me at the driving range in St Michaels. The next time he came to visit he had on his old Gillies (leather golf shoes with metal spikes which are not even legal today), his wooden headed clubs and old Balata rubber golf balls. What a time we had!! And he was damn good playing with that old stuff! When we got to the 4th hole at Hog Neck, (known by Holly as Snake Lake), he hit about 8 of those old relics right into the drink, reminiscent of Kevin Costner in Tin Cup.

There are so many great memories and it is way way too soon for him to be gone, but I have to say that I feel really lucky and fortunate to have known Frank for the little bit of time we had together.

With love and hugs from across the country.

Roger

Holly Bass

January 6, 2017

Dear Marty and Jed,

I am very sorry to learn of Frank's death. I have so many wonderful memories of time spent together with you.
Frank's smile always lit up the room.
My deepest sympathy,
Holly

Rochelle Ruthchild

January 6, 2017

My deep condolences.

Deborah Goldberg

January 5, 2017

Marty and Jed-
I will never ever forget Frank. Such a pure and committed person. Always living up to his ideals. I loved him. He will live on in my heart forever. I send you my love and my sincerest condolences.

Bob Miller

January 5, 2017

What a huge loss to the Town of Brookline. We have lost a true champion.

Alexis Mahon

January 5, 2017

Jed and Marty, I extend my deepest sympathies to you and your family. I'm so sorry for your loss. I have great memories of Frank and will always remember him fondly. My heartfelt condolences.

Ethan Zweig

January 5, 2017

My condolences.

Pat Maloney

January 5, 2017

I had the pleasure of working with Frank on may issues that involved my Department over the years. Frank was detailed and committed to doing what was right. I learned a lot from him and I know he enjoyed learning public health issues from me.
We both appreciated early model BMW's. Frank owned a 2002 BMW and I owned a Triumph 2002. I will miss our chats reminiscing on our vehicles.
My prayers and thoughts are with the family during this difficult time.

January 5, 2017

John and Beatrice Hill
Moorestown, NJ

We extend our condolences to your family.

Archer O'Reilly

January 5, 2017

So many good causes and affinity groups in Brookline will be the less for the absence of Frank Farlow. I got the pleasure of being his roomie in Quezalguaque when we built the library and I will never forget it. Frank was a very gentle man of steel, persistant and determined yet always a soft-spoken gentleman. The only one of us who could claim and entire wall of the library as his own. He built it with so much concentration he entirely missed the small earthquake that hit while he was at it. Such was the focus Frank brought to everything he cared about.
Goodbye friend, the good guys will miss you.

Mary Winslow

January 4, 2017

My deepest sympathies to Marty and family. I am so sorry for your loss.

Barbara Lianides-Chin

January 4, 2017

Brookline has lost a "great" - a fighter for human rights and hard working activist. May he rest in peace & his name be eternal. My sincere condolences to Marty and family.

John Bassett

January 4, 2017

I worked with Frank occasionally for many years. It was always good. Always. Frank was consistent, willing to do more than his share. And fun. And polite. Always laughed at my jokes, his own sense of humor ready to peep through. And he was generous with his time and his tools. I like this photo of Frank.

2007 Pax's Backman award

Marty Rosenthal

January 4, 2017

Frank was/is a great friend & ally, if nothing else for checking & balancing my rougher edges, but so much more. He'll be sorely (physically) missed by me, PAX, Brookline, MA, USA, humanity, and especially (his) Marty & their family. We must all live up to his indefatigable -- and immortal -- spirit & model. The smiling photo here was, I now notice, a very common one for/by him; see another attached -- 9 yrs ago @ Pax's annual meeting with Jack Backman's family, John Businger & Frank Smizik.

Marty Rosenthal, his lesser PAX half.

Barr & joyce Jozwicki

January 4, 2017

A friend and leader for so many of us. We will miss him.

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Not sure what to say?

December 29, 2023

John Bassett posted to the memorial.

December 30, 2022

J ARCHER OREILLY III posted to the memorial.

December 29, 2022

John Bassett posted to the memorial.