Dr. John T. Farraro

Dr. John Thomas Farraro passed away on Thursday, August 19, 2021, in El Paso, Texas at the age of 91. He was born in Batavia, New York on December 10, 1929, as the only child to Thomas and Margaret (Cvitanovich) Farrara.

John grew up between Akron and New York City with his mother and worked as a delivery boy for a neighborhood pharmacy. Like many young boys his age, he learned to fish but for him it was a passion that stayed with him all his life. It was not uncommon for him to bring his catch back in his boots from the Sleepy Hollow fishing spot as he rode home on the subways of New York.

He attended high school at Akron Central School in New York where he met his high school sweetheart, Frances. He graduated in 1949 and on December 30, 1950, he and Frances married. Afterward he joined the United States Army in 1951 and was stationed in Ft. Bliss, Texas where he served as a private until he was honorably discharged in 1953. He and Frances decided to make El Paso their home where they raised their five children, Thomas D. Farraro, Raymond J. Farraro, Karen L. Farraro McAbee, Laura G. Farraro, and John F. Farraro. Sadly, he became a widower in 1978 before his two youngest grew up.

John then met and married Lucy on May 17, 1980. She had two young daughters, L. Angelica Farraro and L. Cristina Boettjer, whom he later adopted as his own, and together they had their son, Michael R. Farraro.

One of the admirable things about John was that there was never an excuse to not continue his education. After his discharge from the Army, he worked for Radio Plane and attended Texas Western College on the GI Bill graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. He took on a position at what was then Coronado Middle School, as a chemistry teacher. Later, he worked as a Metallurgist at ASARCO while he obtained his Master of Science in Metallurgical Engineering when Texas Western became the University of Texas at El Paso. Not long after he took on the role of Chief Metallurgist at the Phelps Dodge copper refinery until his retirement in 1991 and he continued in his field as a consultant. On December 13, 1991, he completed his doctorate program and obtained his PhD in Geology.

Dr. Farraro was always an educator, especially with his own family. Road trips were full of fascinating facts about the geology of the landscape and the various types of fossils one could find in the area in addition to pointing out extinct volcanoes. He taught all his children how to fish for trout and they all grew up with their hand on the end of a fishing rod. There were frequent family trips up to Ruidoso, New Mexico in addition to later annual trips to Big Lake, Arizona. It was almost a rite of passage to land that first trout.

John had a variety of interests throughout his life. He enjoyed playing softball, bowling, and had a decades long passion for the thrill of horse handicapping. John was also a photographer and took many pictures that showcased the beauty of desert landscapes and the hidden gems of flowers that could always be found if you only looked. In many ways it was a metaphor for how he viewed the world and people.

He was an artist with a particular flare for stippling. His work was very much a mirror of himself, full of detail, subtlety, and hidden depths. John played the harmonica and held his children captivated with his music. He was also a skilled dancer who moved with unmistakable grace and fluidity.

John was a handy man and always sought to fix and maintain his home with his own hands. His homes and the homes of his children bear the marks of his handiwork. He was fond of old cars and restored several, among them were two MGs and his last project was a ’56 Chevy truck.

He was a staunch UTEP Miners fan be it basketball or football. He and Lucy could be counted upon to be at every game they could attend.

John had a way of making everyone he met feel welcome, like they were old friends recently reunited. He had a wry sometimes impish wit, infectious laugh and the kind of smile that drew out your own in return. He had a way of dispensing advice that helped you find the answers within. John didn’t make a point of drawing attention to himself, his manner of speaking, and bearing simply made him someone you couldn’t help but notice and afterward couldn’t forget.

He is preceded in death by his parents, first wife, Frances, and his eldest son, Tommy. Dr. Farraro is survived by his wife, Lucy Farraro; sons Raymond, John, and Michael; daughters, Karen, Laura, Angelica, and Cristina; grandsons, Jonathan, Christopher, Nicholas, Eric, Ryan, B.J., Danny, Nick, and Jacob; granddaughters, Katie, Frances, and Cecilia; and several great grandchildren.

A memorial graveside service will be held at Ft. Bliss National Cemetery (East Shelter) on Friday, September 17, 2021 at 2:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Dr. Farraro’s name to your local humane society to honor his love of animals.