Thomas Francis Farrell II

FARRELL, Thomas Francis, II, passed away on April 2, 2021, in Charlottesville, Va.

Tom Farrell was born in Okinawa, the son of Army Colonel Peter F. Farrell and Joan Lang Farrell, who predeceased him.

His was a typical military family, and he and his siblings attended many schools while Colonel Farrell's military career took him and his family to army bases around the country. Tom was a proud graduate of Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria, Va.

In 1972, Tom began a relationship with the University of Virginia, where he earned undergraduate and law degrees and met a group of fellow students with whom he would remain close friends throughout his life. Tom's ties to the University were lifelong and included participating in strategic planning and searches for the University's presidents, being a member of the Seven Society and serving on its Board of Visitors, which elected him as UVA's 41st rector, one of the most satisfying endeavors in his career.

Following graduation from UVA Law School, Tom practiced law in Alexandria and Richmond and held leadership positions with the Virginia Bar Association.

In 1995, Tom Capps, the CEO of Dominion Resources, asked Tom to temporarily leave his law firm McGuireWoods and join him at Dominion "for just six months to help on a project." That "temporary" assignment ended last week when Tom retired as chairman of the Dominion Board of Directors after previously leading the company as CEO since 2006.

While Tom had many notable accomplishments at Dominion and received national recognition as a corporate leader, he was proudest of the company's emphasis of the safety of its employees, who perform dangerous jobs every day, and of Dominion's commitment to hiring our nation's veterans. Today, one in five new hires at Dominion has served in the Armed Forces. He was incredibly appreciative of the enormous amount of community service and volunteerism by the company's employees throughout the United States.

In addition to his leadership of Dominion, Tom chaired the Edison Electric Institute from whom he received their leadership award, the Thomas Edison Award. Tom was a longtime board member of the Institute for Nuclear Power Operations, and served as its chair for three years. Tom served on the board of directors of Altria since 2008 and was its chairman for the last year. Tom chaired the Richmond Performing Arts Alliance since its founding in 2009.

Volunteering and giving back to his community and the Commonwealth of Virginia were central to Tom Farrell's life. He served as a leader of several non-profits and volunteer efforts and recruited others to join him. In addition to his work at the University of Virginia, his service included chairing the board of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, serving on the Board of Visitors of Virginia Commonwealth University, and serving on the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Board of Trustees.

He joined forces with government and local business leaders to restore two of Richmond's most cherished performing arts venues, the Altria Theater and Dominion Energy Center, and was instrumental in attracting and sponsoring the UCI Road World Championship Races to the area in 2015.

Tom worked continuously with governors, legislators, college presidents, fellow business and community leaders and others to build support for education and foster economic growth throughout Virginia. This work included chairing Governor Bob McDonnell's higher education commission, chairing the Virginia Business Council, serving on the State Council for Higher Education of Virginia, the Virginia Business Higher Education Council, other educational and economic councils and chairing the state board for GO Virginia, the regional economic development initiative that he helped to conceive and launch.

Tom was a devout Catholic and a proud supporter of many church-related initiatives, including the Little Sisters of the Poor and Cristo Rey Catholic School.

Tom had a lifelong love of the game of golf first taught to him by his father. He loved its reliance on sportsmanship, competition, etiquette and decorum. His favorite event was playing golf with his Canadian relatives during the annual family golf tournament, the Lang Cup. This family tournament is now almost 40 years old. He combined his passion for golf and charity by bringing the PGA Champions Tour back to Richmond for the annual Dominion Energy Charity Classic. Over $5.1 million has gone to charities supporting military veterans because of the tournament.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Anne Garland Farrell; and sons, Peter and his wife, Christie and Stuart and his wife, Mary. He is also survived by five grandchildren who had become a focal point of his life and brought him great joy.

Tom is also survived by his sister, Sharon Watson of Manteo, North Carolina; his brother, Timothy and his wife, Kathy, of Denver, Colorado; and several cousins, nieces and nephews as well as great nieces and nephews. He took pleasure in building relationships with his younger relatives and watching them embark on their careers.

Due to COVID, the family will have a private Funeral Mass and burial. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make a contribution might consider donating to the Breakthrough Cancer Foundation, c/o Lisa Schwarz, 44 South Main Street, Sherborn, Mass. 01770, Dominion EnergyShare, P.O. Box 91717, Richmond, Va. 23291, or Cristo Rey Catholic School, 304 N. Sheppard St., Richmond, Va. 23221, www.cristoreyrichmond.org.