CDR John J. "Jerry" Faricy, Jr.

1939 - 2021

NORTH SMITHFIELD - CDR John "Jerry" Jerome Faricy, Jr., 82, USN (Ret.) of North Smithfield, Rhode Island, passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 8th, 2021 with his loving family by his side.

Jerry was born on February 23, 1939 in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was the son of the late John Jerome Faricy, Sr. and the late Mildred (Schroth) Faricy Coates. He graduated from Creighton University, Omaha Nebraska with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology.

He entered the Navy in 1964 and served with distinction retiring January 1, 1985 with the rank of Commander. In his early career he served as the second in command of the USS Hickman County, LST- 825, providing gunfire support for US ground troops along the Mekong, Bassac and Saigon Rivers in Vietnam. That tour took him to other Vietnamese ocean ports, Subic Bay, Philippines, Guam and Japan. He then served "in-country" for a tour with the US Naval Support Activity in Danang as the Operations Material Officer. He also served as department heads on various ships when as a Commander, he attained the position of Executive Officer (XO) on his last ship, the USS Blandy (DD 943).

He attended Destroyer School in Newport in 1970 where he met his wife, Beth, before reporting to his first Destroyer, the USS O'Hare (DD-889) in Norfolk, VA. Ironically on one of that ship's last deployments, they were ordered to report to the gun line off the coast of Vietnam in late 1972. They arrived in early 1973 just as the last US shots were fired.

Jerry married the former Elizabeth Marie Dubois, on March 27, 1971 in Our Lady of Victories Church, Woonsocket, RI. During the first 15 years of their marriage, they saw many 6-month deployments to the Mediterranean, the Persian Gulf and the South Pacific. Jerry also had interesting shore duties as a cryptologist, attending the Naval War College in Newport towards an advanced degree, and finally as a long-range planner attached to SACLANT (Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic) his last position in the Navy. As such, he traveled many times to NATO headquarters in Brussels to meet with his military leader counterparts from the member nations.

In all, he earned more than 25 service medals, ribbons and awards during his 20-year career while moving to duty stations in Norfolk VA, Milwaukee WI, Newport RI and finally ending his career in Virginia Beach with SACLANT.

After retiring from his Naval career in 1985, Jerry exercised his entrepreneurial spirit by starting and running several businesses. He ultimately developed a second career in property management, retiring in 2007 from the First Realty Management Company of Boston as manager of their Kent Farm Village in East Providence, RI.

Jerry had a lifelong interest in history and genealogy, and he channeled this in his dedication to local organizations including the North Smithfield Heritage Association (NSHA). He was the immediate past president of NSHA having served in that capacity for 27 years. He secured more than $400,000 in grants for the 1897 Grange building in Slatersville and worked to refurbish and expand it with the help of Moe Bourget, Tim Mundy and Moe Caouette. The Association now owns this building which offers a venue for the public to rent for private celebrations as well as provide a gathering place for NSHA's annual dinner meeting and Christmas potluck suppers.

Jerry especially treasured his time with his family. He loved vacations spent on the Connecticut shore surrounded by his wife, children, and their ever-growing families. Family vacation highlights included traditional New England lobster dinners, puzzle-building, July fireworks displays, kite flying, sharing time with family and friends, and lots of laughter. Quite a storyteller, Jerry was known as the keeper of the "Who GAS log", a treasured collection of his most memorable and often-shared stories.

Besides his wife of 50 years (who served as North Smithfield Town Administrator from 1989-91), he is survived by their three children and their families: his son, Patrick and his wife Gina and their children James and Lauren of Potomac, Maryland; his daughter, Anne and her husband Rob Gerlach and their children Megan and Andrew of Savage, Minnesota; and his daughter Katherine, and her husband Keith Anderson and their children Keira, Soren, and Orion of Lincoln, Rhode Island.

Jerry was the brother of Kathryn (Faricy) Barrett and her deceased husband, Thomas Barrett of St. Anthony, MN; and James Faricy and his partner Rhonda Smieja of Mounds View, MN. He also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, August 16, 2021 at 11AM in St. John the Evangelist Church, 63 Church Street, Slatersville or can be viewed live at https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/9330137788 Burial will follow with military honors in Resurrection Cemetery, 261 West Wrentham Road, Cumberland, RI or can be viewed live at https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/9927331702. Calling hours will be Sunday, August 15, 2021 from 1 - 4PM in the Holt Funeral Home, 510 So. Main St., Woonsocket, RI.

Due to current CDC recommendations and high local COVID transmission rates, the family respectfully requests attendees wears masks and social distance as much as possible during indoor services.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the North Smithfield Heritage Association, P.O.Box 413, Slatersville, RI 02876.

www.holtfuneralhome.com