HUGH ROBERT FARRELL Lt. Col. USAF (Ret.) A Niagara Falls, NY native, career Air Force officer, and long time City of Fairfax, VA resident, died of respiratory failure on February 1, 2014, in Fairfax, VA, at the age of 81. Born in 1932, he was a 1950 graduate of Bishop Duffy High School in Niagara Falls, NY, a 1955 graduate of Canisius College, NY, and a 1957 graduate of Fordham University, NY, with a Masters in Social Work. In 1957 he married Alexsandra (Sandy) Sisko of Milford, CT, who would be his wife of forty nine years, before preceding him in death in 2006. He proudly served as an officer in the U.S. Air Force for almost 25 years, working extensively as a Clinical Psychiatric Social Worker, before becoming Chief Social Worker in the U.S. Air Force. His work impacted Academy cadet support and retention, POW and family repatriation planning and counseling, MIA family counseling, Air Force alcohol / drug addiction support policies, Air Force child abuse protection programs and hospital clinical case work. Retiring from the Air Force in 1981, he continued his career in Social Work at the Woodburn Mental Health Center in Fairfax, VA, for fifteen years. He was a member of the St. Leo's Catholic parish for over forty-four years. Lt. Col. Farrell is survived by his daughter, Kathleen Giangi and husband, Lou, of Leesburg, VA; son Jim Farrell and wife, Pam, of Alexandria, VA; five grandchildren, Chris Giangi of Centerville, VA, Calie Giangi of Vienna, VA, Patrick Farrell, Timothy Farrell and Claire Farrell, all of Alexandria, VA; siblings, Mrs. Irene Banks and husband, Paul, of Ransomville, NY, Lawrence Farrell, CDR USN Ret, and wife, Suzanne, of Haymarket, VA and Mrs. Alexis Williams, and husband Bert, of Avalon NJ. Lt Col. Farrell will be buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA, on the morning of June 6, 2014, At 8:45am at the Old Post Chapel, followed by a graveside service. Arrangements are entrusted to Everly Funeral Home in Fairfax City, VA.

Published in The Washington Post on June 1, 2014