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James Joseph Farrell
James Joseph Farrell
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James Farrell Obituary
This obituary was originally published in the Star Tribune.
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Elizabeth Mena-Larsen
November 14, 2013
My heart goes out to Jim's family. Jim was one of those rare people who truly make a difference. I was blessed to start my St. Olaf career with Jim in the freshman seminar. I want to echo the sentiments that he truly listened and was interested in what his students had to say. While I was at St. Olaf my mother passed away. It was such a difficult time. Jim was always so kind and supportive, even when I was not at my best. I will always think of him as "my professor".
Mark Hulsether
November 10, 2013
I'm shocked to hear this news. Jim was truly a great person at many levels. What a loss for St. Olaf and for all the networks (academic and other) in which he moved. The obit does not exaggerate, it is precise except for the understatement: "Jim changed the world- touching thousands of lives as a teacher, mentor, and friend." Rest in Peace, Jim.
Anne Marie Borch
October 25, 2013
I was so saddened when I just found out about the loss of Jim Farrell. Coming on the heels of finding out about Alice Hanson's passing last week, I am deeply saddened about the loss of the two professors who most influenced my life. Jim taught me so much about how to think creatively, how to go deeply into an idea--the "dense fact" concept--and explore it until something amazing arises in the complexity that is uncovered. He had a huge impact on my intellectual life and the way I view the world. Also on the role of social justice--I went to St. Joan of Arc a few times with him, and was so moved by Jim's vision of the power of the church in social change. I extend my deepest sympathies to his family in their time of loss. He will be much missed.
Katie Schmitz Hanson
October 23, 2013
Jim was definitely the teacher that had the biggest influence on my life's direction. I came to St. Olaf looking for direction and luckily I landed in Jim's First Year Seminar. I'd never had a teacher that was so genuinely interested in what I had to contribute. He was such a good listener and so patient. He always knew just the right questions to ask. He saw his students as a great source of learning in his own life. In my life today as a parent, history teacher, and citizen, I think often of what I learned from Jim about teaching. I'm deeply saddened to hear the news that Jim is gone and no more students will have the opportunity to have him as a teacher.
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October 11, 2013
I am so saddened by this news, which just now reached me. My teaching career started at St. Olaf 32 years ago, and it started with Jim. He was a brilliant and generous teacher of teachers, and I will be forever grateful for all that I learned from working with him in a classroom. That was the most serious fun I've ever had.
Jean Schwind
October 1, 2013
My heartfelt sympathies to Jim's family. I only read of his passing yesterday in the St. Olaf alumni magazine. 30 years ago Jim was my prof and advisor at St. Olaf. He was a wonderful man and teacher. On Black Friday 2012 he spoke at the Unitarian church in St. Paul which I attended. Afterwards he hung around to chat with people. He knew my face was familiar and gave me a big hug. I didn't know then it was the last time I would see him. He spoke with great love of his family. I'm so sorry for your loss.
September 30, 2013
Jim Farrell influenced my social studies career greatly. I still remember his classes like they were last semester but it was over 25 years ago.. He really made us think about what social studies is and his enthusiasm was contagious. Whether he was pushing us to think outside the box, using his own options for Minneapolis kindergarden as an example of philosophy about education or proclaiming that making the bed is a waste of time he changed the way future educators think and we are better teachers because of him. Susan Clark, St. Olaf Class of '84
Beth Brooks '82
September 24, 2013
Jim was an amazing teacher, mentor and guide. He influenced my education and life in so many aspects. I loved the interesting topics that weren't the main course and his enthusiasm for his students study of the "weird". My thoughts and prayers continue for his immediate family and the St Olaf family who became better because of Jim and his presence
Tim Strotman
September 19, 2013
From '77 to '80 I had the great pleasure of car pooling to St. Olaf with Jim. The level of conversation, with Gretchen Kreuter and Solveig Zempel, was extraordinary. We also played noon ball. He was St. Olaf's Kevin McHale. To keep it short, Jim had the unique combination of irony and compassion that convinced you he saw the heart of the problem and was ready to do something about it. I feel privileged to have known him. My sympathy to Barb and their sons.
Jim Zaffiro
September 11, 2013
A great tree has fallen. It was with great sadness that I learned of Jim's passing. He was a good friend, a generous, inspiring mentor and, it is fair to say, that without his creative, powerful work in sustainability across the curriculum and campus, our school would not be where it is today. He will be greatly missed.
Erika Bailey-Johnson
September 9, 2013
My heart is heavy with this news. I still remember the first time I met Jim at a conference at St. John's about ten years ago. He was so creative and engaging! I successfully pushed to use his book "Nature of College" in our course at BSU. He came up at the end of January to deliver a presentation to the class. I loved his terms "default settings" and "global weirding". He was truly a wizard with words! I asked him to keynote a Sustainability Across the Curriculum workshop I co-facilitated at North Hennepin Community College in March. How I will miss him!! His teaching methodology will always run through my veins. It is my belief that the body is but a vessel and his spirit lives on in all of us. Miigwech, Jim, for planting so many seeds.
Nancy Hollinger
September 6, 2013
Barb and family, the sadness is as fresh as it was weeks ago when we learned that Jim had passed. He was a good friend, a wonderful listener, an amazing boss, a mentor, and he gave great advice. Thank you for sharing Jim with all of us. We were so lucky to learn from such a good person. He will never be forgotten.
Jim's loyal secretary,
Nancy Hollinger
Steve Polansky
August 14, 2013
Barb and John and Paul - Though Jim and I saw very little of each other in recent years, he was my close friend and mentor at St. Olaf. It is hard for me to imagine the college, the world, without him. What a grievous loss.
Laura Arnold
August 12, 2013
To John and his family: I am sorry to hear about your father. He sounds like he was a great man and clearly provided a positive impact on you.
Annette Atkins
August 2, 2013
What a good man -- smart, inspirational, creative, funny, charming, talented. A large loss.
August 2, 2013
To Jim's family:
The hole left in our collective and individual lives left by Jim's death is large. His impact will be felt for generations. Thank you for sharing his energy, his time, his hope, and his love with us at St. Olaf. Wishing you peace.
Mary Carlsen
Mary Harrison
August 1, 2013
I was deeply saddened to hear of Jim's passing. He was my advisor and I worked for him as a T.A. while at St. Olaf, so I had the privilege of spending a lot of time with him. I still refer to him as "Dr. America" in conversation at times as his way of thinking and framing ideas made such an impact on me. I will keep you all in my thoughts and prayers, and I am so sorry for your loss.
John Day
July 31, 2013
Jim was a valued colleague, friend, and teacher to many -- not just to those in his classes. His quiet resolve was inspirational. My prayers and thoughts are with the Farrell family and my former colleagues at St. Olaf.
Marilyn Bierden
July 30, 2013
Barb,John, Paul and families,
Our family is holding yours in our hearts. We know you were exceedingly blessed to have Jim as husband, dad, and grandpa. We are so sorry for your loss.
Kyle Rose
July 30, 2013
Barb, John and Paul and family,
We are so sad in Jim's passing. You are all in our thoughts and prayers. Pete and Kyle Rose
Bobby Bell
July 30, 2013
John and family,
Please accept my warmest regards. As I work through my graduate school and develop my career, I am so often reminded of how important our educational institutions are. Though your father never became President of the United States, to me his legacy with friends, family and specifically the St. Olaf community shows that his path was one of the most meaningful on this planet, and will influence others far beyond today.
Kindly,
Bobby
Jim Dahl
July 29, 2013
Barb;
You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Mike Leming
July 29, 2013
St. Olaf College and the entire community have had a Great, Great loss as Jim left us. Jim was an incredible teacher, scholar, gentleman, and friend to the entire community. On the "hill" this is a time of mourning for all of us. He was an incredible professor and friend. I have never had a colleague that I have respected more than "Gentleman Jim." He was so smart, humble, creative, faithful, interdisciplinary, caring, etc., etc, etc. I thank God to have served during all of the years when Jim was my colleague at St. Olaf College.
Mike Leming
Professor Emeritus of Sociology
Julie Chuba
July 29, 2013
I only had one class from Jim Farrell at St. Olaf (30 years ago!), but he definitely made a lasting impression on me. His keen intellect and equally keen wit (and appreciation of wordplay) kept all his students on their toes.
He was the type of teacher who learned as much from his students as he taught them. He supported and encouraged all his students in their questions, papers, and research, and involved himself in so many endeavors outside the classroom (both fun and serious) that he was a quiet, yet vibrant part of the campus community.
In class, I remember him getting the discussion ball rolling, and then just sitting back and letting students talk -- he was not afraid of awkward silences. He once cornered me out of class and asked why I didn't speak up (I was intimidated by my much more vocal and opinionated classmates), which took me aback. But he wanted all his students to have a voice in his classroom, and he fully expected to hear from all of them! I think Jim Farrell taught me a lot about lifelong learning.
I remember his mile-long reading lists (including stacks of additional photocopied articles which as a student worker in the Paracollege I assembled -- I used to call him "Dr. Xerox"), and how he dressed head to toe in green for St. Patrick's Day, resembling a long green string bean as he walked across campus.
He inspired and touched a generation of students--probably in ways he never expected or ever knew.
My sympathy and condolences to his family and friends and colleagues as they mourn his passing. "Those whom we love and lose are no longer where they were before. They are now wherever we are." (St. John Chrysostom)
John Tutino
July 29, 2013
Barb, John, and Paul,
Jane, Maria, Gabriela and I were deeply saddened to learn of Jim's passing. He and all the Farrell's made our lives so much better in so many ways as we learned to become a family.
July 29, 2013
I still remember Professor Farrell's classes 20 years later and his teaching still inspires me. I am so sorry for your loss. Beth Kelly (Olaf Class '93)
John Marty
July 29, 2013
Our sympathy to the Farrell family. Jim touched the lives of our family in many wonderful ways. You are in our thoughts and prayers at this time of grief.
July 29, 2013
Dear cousins and friends,
I am very sad to hear of Jim's passing. He was a leader among the family relations, too. We will miss him very much!
your cousin,
Marlene Egger
Carly Skold DeGriselles
July 29, 2013
Farrell family,
I'm thinking of you as I read so many nice words here and on Facebook. I loved having Jim as a professor at Olaf. My condolences to all of you.
Kevin Collins
July 29, 2013
Jim was a fabulous teacher, always provocativ and engaging. He really made me think and it was hard. The one class on American Culture I took from him was one of best classes I had at St. Olaf. Peace and blessing to Jim and your family,
Carol Kuechler
July 28, 2013
Dear Barb, John/Kristin, Ben/Meridith, Paul/Laura, Zach,
Our thoughts and prayer and smiles and memories are with you. Jim's presence in our lives was a blessing that will continue. When there are challenging times, it will be natural to wonder: WWJT - for what he would think would be deep, thorough, witty, and best shared with pizza, beer and friends.
our love and hugs,
Carol K and Tom T.
martha flotten
July 28, 2013
My thoughts and prayers to the Farrell family. Thank you for sharing Prof Farrell with us Oles. He inspired me to think, challenge, and to make a difference. I fell into the field of public librarianship because of many great conversations we had about making a difference in the lives of others. I hope the memories shared bring a smile during this sad time.
Aaron Tesch
July 28, 2013
I'm going to miss Jim's creative pizzas. Part of him will be with us always.
Laurel Carringt on
July 28, 2013
So sad to lose our beloved colleague and friend. His life was a blessing to all who knew him.
Sharon & Butch (Farrell) Hazen
July 28, 2013
Barb & to the rest of Jim's family,
You have my deepest sympathies, & we will definitely keep you all in our thoughts and prayers! It has been a few years since I last saw Jim but I have memories of summer visits with Uncle Lee's bunch either in St Marys or Danville, camping in the back yards & just trying to get away with anything we could as kids do, & being foisted by the parents, makes me think Dad & Uncle Lee must have tried with Grandmother Farrell. Cherish your memories, it sounds like Jim had an amazing life.
Brian Varland
July 28, 2013
Professor Farrell was an inspiration for countless students at St. Olaf. His teaching and mentoring in an American environmental history course changed my life. His legacy lives on in the values I'm teaching my children.
Colleen Sheehy
July 28, 2013
I knew Jim through American studies. My condolences to his family.
Steve & Charlotte Zumbusch
July 28, 2013
Jim touched many lives and we are grateful to have had him be a part of ours. Jim and Barb built a strong family and our thoughts are with them.
Ann & Dennis Weber
July 28, 2013
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
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