Sean E. Farley

Sean E. Farley
1964 - 2018

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Sean E. Farley.

Sean was born in Burbank on July 19, 1964 and often joked about being subjected to the middle child syndrome treatment. He attended Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks where he was a stand out water polo player and participant in several musicals including memorable performances in Bye Bye Birdie and Guy's & Dolls. Following in the steps of his father and grandfather, Sean graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a bachelor's degree in Finance. He went on to receive his law degree at Creighton University and his master's in tax law at the University of San Diego. In 1991, while practicing law in Bakersfield, Sean met his wife Ginny at the Alley Cat. They wed on April 24, 1993 and welcomed their son Patrick in 1994.

Next to God, Country, and Notre Dame, Sean was a devoted teacher. Over the last twenty years, he taught practically every grade level from elementary to post graduate. He leaves a legacy of students from St. Francis School, Panama Buena Vista, Garces High School and Fruitvale Jr. High, where he was teaching an intervention class at the time of his diagnosis on Good Friday of cholangiocarcinoma, a rare liver cancer, which, despite his valiant efforts to defeat, claimed his life eighteen days later.

The family would like to express their thanks to Dr. Adam Klang for his candor and compassion; the staff at Memorial Hospital for their wonderful care of Sean in his final days; Monsignor Craig for his message of hope, eternal life, and for always being there; the Fruitvale School District, and the staff and students of Fruitvale Jr. High for their unwavering support during these difficult weeks.

Sean was an awesome son, brother, husband, father, teacher, coach and cook. He will always be remembered for his love for Notre Dame, his contagious laugh, playful teasing of his sister and those he loved, his uncanny ability to explain math and science to anyone, coaching the men's Garces waterpolo team to a back-to-back championship, his captivating ability to tell jokes and stories, staying current with technology, taking action photographs of Patrick's teammates throughout the years, driving circuitous routes to avoid traffic lights, his affinity for hot sauces, his homemade pasta, million dollar rice, and mouth watering BBQ ribs, a healthy addiction to Star Wars, Rocky movies, Shark week, and Monty Python, listening to spa music, his impeccable work attire with stylish shirts and ties, and his immeasurable love and pride for his wife and son.

Sean was a generous, creative, kind, witty, determined, funny, loyal, strong man who died too early. His death should be a reminder to us all, particularly his students, past and present: "Do or Do not. There is no try." Make an impact. Express your love.

Two services are planned. The viewing will be on Monday, April 23, 2018 at 5:30 pm at St. Francis of Assisi Parish on H street in Bakersfield with the rosary to begin at 7:30pm. A Catholic funeral mass officiated by Monsignor Craig Harrison will take place on Tuesday, April 24, 2018 at 10:00 am at St. Francis.

There will also be a rosary at Sneider & Sullivan Funeral Home in San Mateo on Friday, April 27, 2018 at 7:30 pm and on Saturday, April 28, 2018, at 10:00am, a funeral mass at St. Matthew's Catholic Church at One Notre Dame Ave with burial immediately following at Holy Cross cemetery in Colma.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Sean E. Farley Memorial Scholarship intended for intervention students. Checks should be made payable to the "Fruitvale Education Foundation " with Sean Farley's name in the note section of the check and sent to Fruitvale School District, 7311 Rosedale Hwy, Bakersfield, CA 93308.

No pain...to the end.

Save me a place in twelve-star heaven my rock and my love.

Together Forever.