Leonard L Farina

Leonard "Len" Luigi Farina, 85, of Keene, formerly of Harrisville, died Wednesday morning, May 29, 2013, at Genesis Healthcare Center in Keene, following a period of declining health.

He was born in 1927 in Lynn, Massachusetts, one of eight children of Luigi Leonard and Adelinda (Arcieri) Farina. He moved from Massachusetts to the Keene area as a child, where his father established the Princess Shoe Company. He was a 1945 graduate of Keene High School and a 1950 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School, where he earned a degree in business. He served briefly in the United States Army, and after an honorable discharge he returned to Keene.

He married Constance "Connie" (Wright) Farina in a ceremony at St. James Episcopal Church in Keene on December 27, 1952. The couple lived in West Keene until 1972, when they moved to Harrisville. The couple recently celebrated their sixtieth anniversary with a family-style pasta dinner-Len's favorite meal.

In 1972, Len founded Business Systems, Inc., a data processing service bureau, which he ran for over thirty years before handing the business over to his daughter, Sarah Farina. Len took great pride in providing personal and quality service to his many clients in and around the Monadnock region.

As a member of St. James Episcopal Church, Len played the organ, which his family had donated to the church, for nearly twenty-five years. He was an accomplished musician, playing piano and accordion as well. He enjoyed musical theater and accompanied the Lions Club productions for many years. He passed his love of music on to his family, and family events often became impromptu concerts and sing-a-longs. Len was a highly social person, entertaining anyone who would watch with his impressive repertoire of string figures and striking up conversations with strangers at his favorite restaurants. He was a mentor for Junior Achievement at Franklin Elementary School and counted sailing and woodworking among his other hobbies. He was always ready to share a joke, a limerick, or a bag of homemade pizzelles (Italian waffle cookies).

He is survived by his wife, Constance Farina of Harrisville; four children: Abigail Butler and her husband Geoffrey of Detroit, Michigan, Jonathan Farina and his wife Diane of Surry, Sarah Farina of Swanzey, and Emily Havlicek and her husband Jeff of Swampscott, Massachusetts; seven grandchildren: Yolanda Wutkiewicz and her husband Rusty, Joanna Linehan and her husband Nathan, Christopher Farina and his wife Christine, Matthew Farina, Matthew Havlicek, Anika Havlicek, and Harris Havlicek; one great-grandchild: Anna Clare Scott Wutkiewicz, as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was predeceased by all seven of his siblings.

A celebration of Len's life will be held on Saturday, June 8, at 11:00 a.m. at St. James Episcopal Church. Inurnment will follow in the church columbarium. At the request of the family, there will be no public calling hours.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in the name of Leonard Farina to the scholarship fund for the Monadnock Chapter of the American Guild of Organists Scholarship Fund c/o Renea Waligora, 23 Central Sq., Keene, NH 03431.

Fletcher Funeral Home & Cremation Services (www.FletcherFuneralHome.com), 33 Marlboro Street, Keene, has been entrusted with the arrangements.