James John Farrell, III

James J. Farrell III passed away on October 4, 2018. Jim attended St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark, NJ. A Vietnam War veteran, Jim served three cruises aboard the USS King, and received the Combat Action Ribbon. After his Honorable Discharge from the Navy he worked as a logger in Ketchikan, Alaska. He then studied for and received a B.A. in Spanish from UCLA. After that he spent time in Mexico, teaching English in Mérida and Oaxaca. Later, while working as a court interpreter, Jim worked toward his M.A. in Spanish Translation, earning his degree from Rutgers University.

Later Jim taught Spanish at St. Benedict’s Prep, his alma mater. Jim worked as a Spanish language court interpreter for 26 years in the Middlesex County Superior Court in New Brunswick, NJ. He was Chief Shop Steward representing the professional workers of Middlesex County in the Communication Workers of America, Local 1036, as well as the Union of Court Interpreters.

Jim had many passions and interests, especially playing bridge on the Internet with Christine Gray from Scotland. He swam from San Francisco to Alcatraz and back. Jim loved the study of history, particularly that of the Asia-Pacific theater during World War II. He read widely on a variety of topics and genres, from poetry to agricultural texts. Jim traveled extensively, many times on journeys unplanned, slinging up his hammock between whichever two trees were available.

Jim was a student of the tango, attending milongas all over the world, including in Italy, Argentina, Uruguay, Mexico, Colombia, Puerto Rico, New York City, San Francisco and Seattle. He loved to dance with Patty Tutzumi in Central Park. She was his Japanese, Norwegian-American, Samurai Tango Girl.

Jim is predeceased by his father, James J. Farrell Jr. He is survived by his mother, Marie Farrell O’Neil, Brielle, NJ, his sisters Patrice Marie Farrell, Great Barrington, MA, and Maureen O’Neil, Oregon, his brother John O’Neil, Brielle, NJ, his favorite niece Elizabeth Jane Farrell and her husband, Justin Scace, and his two great nieces, Eloise Farrell Scace and Tessa Farrell Scace, all of Waltham, MA. He is also survived by his beloved Serbe and Melinkovich relatives.

Visitation will take place at Jaqui-Kuhn Funeral Home, 17 South Adelaide Avenue, Highland Park, NJ, on Tuesday, October 9th from 3-7 pm. The Funeral Mass will be held on October 10th at 10:00 am at St. Paul’s the Apostle Church, 502 Raritan Avenue, Highland Park, NJ. The burial will be at Mt. Olivet, Middletown, NJ, immediately following the mass.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Benedict’s Prep, Newark NJ, or the Highland Park Public Library, Highland Park, NJ

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