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James Farrell Obituary

Published by Vancouver Sun and/or The Province on Dec. 22, 2012.

James Farrell February 10, 1944 - November 30, 2012. Jim died suddenly at home in Oak Bay, B.C. Born in Ottawa, Jim grew up in Montreal, and got his MBA at Western. As a smart and ambitious young man Jim rose quickly through the ranks at the Toronto Dominion Bank, ultimately heading the foreign exchange departments in, alternately, New York, London, Tokyo, and Hong Kong. Jim became known as a fixer, and the bank would drop him in to turn around ailing departments. Later, as a consultant Jim lived for the thrill of the chase, putting together the right people to build a deal, using his unique arcane knowledge of finance. Jim is survived by his partner Anita Parsons, his sons from his first marriage Geoff and Jason, his son from his second marriage Ellery, and his grandsons Kinnon, Rudy, and David. He is pre-deceased by his brother John and his first wife Susan. A small memorial will be held in Victoria January 19th. Memories of Jim can be left on the online guestbook or e-mailed to [email protected], and will be read at the memorial.

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Recent Activity

December 27, 2012

Henry Schindele posted to the memorial.

December 24, 2012

Ken Foxcroft. posted to the memorial.

December 24, 2012

John Despic posted to the memorial.

3 Entries

Henry Schindele

December 27, 2012

It has been a real privilege working for Jim for 15 years during my 40 year career with TD. I started working for Jim in Montreal in 1976 and he showed me the ropes in international banking and thus started my career. He was aggressively expanding Foreign Exchange and international banking services when no other competitor was thinking about it. Jim was a good friend. We went to the Olympics in 1976 and we enjoyed our weekends having a lot of fun when he was able to relax which was impossible in the office. We both loved smoked meat sandwiches from Schwartz's on St. Lawrence. I remember helping him move when he was unable to hold on to the bed and thus rolled it down on Mountain St in Montreal. We could not stop laughing. He always wanted to stick out from the crowd in particular when it came to sports cars. He bought a 10 year old fixed up MG in the Eastern Townships in Quebec from a friend as a favor however when we drove it back to Montreal with the roof down the muffler fell off and we became the attention of all drivers given the noise.
I eventually took over from him in Tokyo where he established TD to be the only bank for Canadian Banking services at that time. He had the foresight of anticipating Japan to be a huge exporter of capital of which a large part went to Canada. Jim was instrumental in garnering the majority of this business and ultimately the branch became one of the most profitable foreign banks in Japan due to his efforts. The Bank's Chairman Mr. Thomson came to Tokyo and acknowledged his success. Jim had the unique personality in motivating his staff in particular his traders who he challenged continuously. In fact he was entrepreneurial and the best motivator at TD's International Division at that time. Jim was an inspiration to all of us. God bless him.

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Ken Foxcroft.

December 24, 2012

I had the great pleasure of knowing Jim through his many years at TD bank. Jim was a good guy to go to when the bank went into a new market such as Tokyo, where he took a small and new operation to being one of the most profitable foreign banks in japan. Jim had a great love of Asia and of life but often "burnt the candle at both ends!! he lived life to the full. Sincerest condolences to Jim's family.

John Despic

December 24, 2012

Jim's passing feels like something of a milestone in my own life. I offer these few words so that Jim's 'kids' might have something of an appreciation of the impressive man he was, even while they were still very young.

Jim hired me in 1976 to work at the Montreal, International Centre of TD Bank. He was only about 32 years old and the manager of a multi-million dollar profit centre - quite a climb from the bus driver Jim had been as a student! It had about 100 employees and consisted of several specialized departments from Foreign Exchange trading to Commercial Letters of Credit. Already, Jim was a kind of wunderkind. By sheer coincidence, he and I lived in the same apartment building on Mountain Street. So every business day, through sun, rain, sleet or snow, we would walk the 30 minutes to the office.

Jim would generally do most if the talking. He was enormously imaginative. His mind was always working, processing hypothesizing, considering... all kinds of things, often to do with business. He would frequently speak in metaphors. And, if I did not understand one, I shut up hoping it would come to me later on, not wanting to interrupt Jim's train of thought. Invariably, he was clever and/or humorous, usually both. Sometimes, I made him crack up with bawdy limerick from a book I purloined from my uncle (who forgave my transgression). Jim and I would do things out of the office, too, notably take day trips to the country with our wives. The idyll of time with Jim and the gang ended for me about 2 1/2 years later when Jim was transferred to New York (I think it was).

Jim's support helped me secure the good opinion of Henry Schindele, who later transferred me to Vancouver to be his assistant manager (administration) - more hard work, but good times.

After his stint in Montreal, I would indeed say that Jim was TD Bank's international 'fixer'. he did the rounds of NYC, Hong Kong, London and Tokyo. He later became VP, Asia, for Bank of Nova Scotia. The story I heard was that BNS had been losing money in Tokyo for 19 (nineteen!) years, but needed the flagship presence there. Within 1 1/2 years of Jim's arrival - surprise, surprise - the office began turning a profit.

In the late 1980's, I spent a week as Jim's guest in London. He was as smart, fun and generous there as ever. The last time we met was about 12 years ago when I was in Vancouver in business. He looked youthful, robust and vigorous. All in all, I thought of Jim as larger than life and a fascinating guy. I am sorry his is gone. Rest in peace, JGF.

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