WESTFIELD – Richard L. Farrell, 81, (1942-2024) of Westfield, MA, died August 7, 2024, at Hartford Hospital after a sudden illness, with his loving family by his side. Born in Holyoke and raised in 
Florence, he was the son of the late Marion and Richard Farrell. Rick was a 1960 graduate of Northampton High School, where he was a three-sport athlete, excelling in football, basketball, and baseball. A proud 1964 graduate of UMass Amherst, he majored in political science, played football and varsity baseball (earning a baseball scholarship all four years), and was a Theta Chi fraternity member. His pursuit of aviation began when he enrolled in ROTC at UMass. Upon graduation, he was accepted into pilot training at Vance Air Force Base in Oklahoma. There he flew the T-38, which was his favorite military jet due to its speed and maneuverability. His bond with his training class, 66-C, remained strong through the years. Following pilot training, from 1964–1970, he was a commissioned officer, instructor pilot, and flight examiner and flew the T-37 and T-39. From 1970–1989, Rick was an Air National Guard officer and fighter pilot stationed at Barnes Air National Guard Base in Westfield. There he flew the F-84, F-100, and A-10. He achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and was also commander of the 131st Tactical Fighter Squadron within the 104th Fighter Group. Rick’s commercial airline career took off in 1972 when he was hired by Eastern Airlines. He began as a second officer on the L-188 Electra followed by the B-727. He then became a first officer, flying the B-727 and the DC-9 and was ultimately promoted to captain on the DC-9, which he flew until Eastern Airlines ceased operations in 1991. Rick then transitioned to corporate aviation, which gave him many years of flying well beyond a typical pilot’s career. He flew around the world as the chief pilot on various aircraft types including the CE-500, LR-35, CE-650, and Falcon 900, and finished his career as a Gulfstream IV captain. Rick would make the most of any layover time he had on his trips. He would return from faraway places with stories of seeing the Egyptian pyramids, getting a personal wave from the Queen of England on the streets of London, and so much more. He was like a walking encyclopedia and would simply astound his children and grandchildren with his understanding of the world because of all the countries and cultures he encountered firsthand. Rick also loved to talk about airplanes so much that he would impart his knowledge on anyone who was willing to listen, which often meant a conversation much longer and more detailed than they bargained for! One of his proudest professional accomplishments was receiving the Federal Aviation Administration’s Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award in recognition of his “contributions to building and maintaining the safest aviation system in the world, through practicing and promoting safe aircraft flight operations for 50 consecutive years.” After receiving this award, he flew for another eight years, finally retiring at age 78 when the COVID-19 pandemic slowed down aviation worldwide, particularly in the private sector. He remained active in the local aviation community, sharing his knowledge and love of flying with students in the Wright Flight program based at Barnes Airport. Rick was also a member of the Quiet Birdmen. He always said he never worked a day in his life because he loved flying so much. With all that Rick accomplished, he was humble to a fault and always put others before himself. His family was in awe of the incredible life he led and the amazing experiences he had, which were only due to the hard work he put in to achieve them, living up to his 66-C training class’s motto: “grind away.” He has set the bar high and left big shoes to fill.
Despite all he accomplished in his distinguished aviation career, Rick was most proud of his family that he raised with his wife, Kathy, with whom he would have celebrated 55 years of marriage this fall. Rick enjoyed so many activities with Kathy and his children over the years including skiing, tennis, golfing, sailing at Otis Reservoir, trips to Sanibel Island, coaching youth sports, and cheering on family members in athletic events and band performances. He enjoyed watching his grandchildren discover their unique talents and supported them in their horseback riding, track and field, rugby, basketball, gymnastics, and band events. In addition to being an avid Red Sox and UMass baseball fan, out of his sheer love of sports, he was known to frequent local high school and college games long after his children had graduated.
Rick was predeceased by his first wife, Carol (mother of his son Brian), in 1968; his parents, Marion and Richard; his mother- and father-in-law, Elayne and William Lees; nephew Daniel Farrell; sister-in-law Carol Farrell; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. He is survived by his beloved wife of 54 years, Kathy Farrell; his children, Brian Farrell and his wife, Elizabeth, of Colorado Springs, CO; Melissa Griswold and her husband, Robert, of Westhampton; and Dr. Timothy Farrell and his wife, Julia, of Sandy, UT. His grandchildren Hannah (and her fiancé, Nick Skowronek) and Allison Griswold, Cate Farrell, and Andrew and Leah Farrell will forever miss their Bapa and keep his memory alive by following his example. Rick leaves behind his sister Lolly Templeton and her husband, Jeff (who was like a brother to Rick), of Westfield; his brother, Will Farrell, and his partner, Sandy, of Ludlow; his sister Anne Ouimet and her husband, Jack, of Hatfield; his sister Katie Ross and her husband, Jim, of Whately; and his sister Martha Goodridge and her husband, Skip, of Whately. Rick also leaves his brother-in-law, Jon Lees and his wife, Martha, of Westhampton, and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. Finally, Rick leaves his special buddy, granddog Murray Griswold, who already misses his belly rubs.
Rick’s family would like to thank the Noble Hospital Emergency Department and the Hartford Hospital surgical and medical ICU doctors and nurses, especially Erin and Christine, who worked so hard to try to save him and provided exceptional comfort care. His family is also deeply grateful for his granddaughter Hannah Griswold, an ICU nurse herself, who did not leave his side. He knew that “Nurse Hannah” was there for him even in his final moments. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Rick’s name to the Jimmy Fund (please visit danafarber.jimmyfund.org) or the Western Massachusetts Wright Flight program (checks can be made in Rick’s name payable to Barnes Airport Support Group and sent to 110 Airport Road, Westfield, MA 01085).
Calling hours will be 2 to 5 pm on Sunday, August 18th at Firtion-Adams Funeral Home, 76 Broad Street, Westfield, MA. Funeral services will be Monday, August 19th at 12:30 pm at Firtion-Adams, with military burial to follow at 2 pm at the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Agawam.
“When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.” – Leonardo da Vinci
