LINDA FARMER

FARMER, LINDA, of Coconut Grove, Florida, died peacefully at home on Tuesday, April 28th from a long illness. She was 69. Survivors include her brothers Steve (Kathy) of San Antonio, Texas, Bill (Mary) of Cedar Falls, Iowa, and Paul (Shawn) of Des Moines, Iowa; nieces Lisa (Ray) Wilfong of Des Moines, Iowa,, Karen (Steve) Sprague of San Antonio, Texas, Ann (Matt) Farmer of Augusta, Maine and Laura (Cara) Farmer of Marion, Iowa; and special cousin John (Connie) Farmer of Cape Coral, Florida. Linda also leaves a legacy of friends, colleagues, sailors, and bird watchers in Miami. She was preceded in death by her parents, Howard and Nancy Kelleher Farmer. Linda was born May 6th, 1945 in Thomasville, Georgia. She grew up in Mason City, Iowa, where she was very active in girl scouting. Linda flourished in this community of strong female role models, and here she developed her love of nature and the confidence to dream big. She received a BA in Biology from Mt. Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. During her senior year Linda made a big life decision while sitting in the Eastside Maid-Rite: she decided to move to the Bahamas and pursue her dream of sailing. Once she started sailing she never looked back. Linda received her PhD in Biological Oceanography from the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science at the University of Miami in 1978. She was a beloved professor and colleague in the Biology and Marine Science departments at the University of Miami for 29 years, serving as a professor, Assistant Dean, and Director of the Marine Science program . Every day on the ocean was a new adventure for Linda, and she encouraged that same sense of wonder and awe in her students, taking them on a number of memorable sailing trips. For many years Linda lived on a sailboat docked in the Dinner Key Marina where she formed many life-long friendships. She especially loved the holiday tradition of rafting boats together and sharing food, music, and laughter. After retiring from the University of Miami Linda began dividing her time between Miami and Cushing, Maine, where she enjoyed the ocean with a cooler breeze. Linda was always up for an adventure, and routinely explored new hiking trails, festivals, organizations, and foods. She was a wonderful conversationalist, a champion for students and friends alike, and a true lover of life. In honor of Linda the family would like to encourage you to take a chance on a dream of your own. A celebration of life and a burial at sea will take place at a later time.