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Joseph R. Farina - Class of 1939

Submitted by Fran Olson Gustafson 1965 <fgustafson917@gmail.com> on 28/Dec/2018
184.103.235.86

       Joseph R. Farina was born in Newburgh, NY on January 26, 1921, the son of the late Louis and Anna Farina. He married his wife Elizabeth (Palmer) Farina in Brisbane, Australia in 1942. He was educated through the Newburgh School System and graduated from NFA in 1939. He is predeceased by his parents, and his two brothers Louis and John and his nephew, Stephen. He was a U.S. Army Veteran and saw combat in New Guinea and the Philippine Islands in World War II. He received four battle stars, numerous medals and two Presidential Citations. His war experience is recorded in the National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, Texas, and the U.S. Army Signal Corps Museum at Fort Gordon, Georgia. He was the former owner of a bowling center in Punta Gorda, Florida and manager of Bowl-O-Matic Lanes in Newburgh. His managerial and promotional talents were recognized by the Brunswick Corporation in Chicago, and he was offered a contract to go to Australia to assist with the introduction of the sport in that country. He accepted a position as Technical Advisor to Brunswick of Australia and remained in that country for twenty-one years assisting with the introduction, promotion and development of the sport in Australia. He served on the Board of Directors of two Australian companies, and his name became synonymous with the sport in Australia. He was recognized as one of the major pioneering executives of bowling in Australia. He, along with Lt. General James D. Hughes (Ret.), State Sen. William Larkin and newspaper publisher Everett Smith were the four men who comprised the Genesis Group who were instrumental in the establishment of the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor. In recognition of his outstanding achievements in Veterans Affairs, he was inducted into the New York Senate Veterans Hall of Fame in 2012.

He was the founder and Past Commander of Catholic War Veteran's Post 386, and served on State and National level with that organization. In 2016 he received the Catholic War Veterans highest national honor when he was presented with the Honor Legion of the Loyal Order of St. Sebastian. He was a Life-member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1161, the 156th Field Artillery Association, a member of the Board of Directors of the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, Inc., past member of the New York State Veteran's Legislative Committee in Albany, past member of the New Windsor Lions Club, the Australian Returned Soldiers League, St. George Rugby Club in Sydney, Australia , the Australian-American Club in Sydney, a honorary life member of the Rockdale Tenpin Club in Sydney, the New Windsor Seniors and Club 60. He is a former licensed Basketball official in the State of Florida, and attended his sports seminars at the University of Miami. In his youth he was active in sports as a member of the Nomads Athletic Club and the William Street Social Club. He is survived by his loving wife Elizabeth, and nieces Lynn Distefano and her husband Jim of Slate Hill, NY, Stephanie Cabral and her husband Mario, Kym Garbatini and Tracy Daniels all from Connecticut and a niece, Ellen Palmer in Sydney, Australia and several nieces, nephews, great and great-great nieces and nephews. He was a communicant of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Newburgh NY. Visitation will be held from 2 to 5pm on Sunday, December 30 at Brooks Funeral Home, 481 Gidney Ave. Newburgh, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10am on Monday, December 31, at St. Francis Church, 145 Benkard Avenue, Newburgh. Entombment with military honors will follow in Cedar Hill Mausoleum, Newburgh, NY.

NEW WINDSOR – Joseph Farina, a native of Newburgh and co-founder of the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor in New Windsor died on Thursday, December 27. He was 97.

“Joe was my brother,” said retiring State Senator William Larkin, who was another driving force in establishing the Hall of Honor and securing millions of state dollars to build the facility. Larkin, who will be 91 in February, announced Farina’s death on Friday while holding back his tears. “This is a man who never was interested in the spotlight, only getting the job done. I will miss our conversations and our friendship. Our veteran’s community will miss this juggernaut whose accomplishments and contributions were immeasurable.”

Farina attended Newburgh schools and graduated from Newburgh Free Academy in 1939. Shortly after graduation, he joined the 156th Field Artillery, New York National Guard. His unit was called into federal service on September 16, 1940 and stationed at Fort Dix, New Jersey. When war was declared on December 7, 1941, he volunteered to go overseas and was transferred to Jackson Barracks in New Orleans to await assignment. A high-speed Morse code operator, he was assigned to a secret mission to the Philippine Islands. Farina was later assigned to the Southwest Pacific Theatre of Operations under the command of General MacArthur. His initial assignment in New Guinea was as radio operator at MacArthur’s advanced headquarters. Through his military service, Farina received several decorations including four battle stars and two Presidential Citations.

After serving in the military, he came home and became active in veterans affairs. He was a member of the Genesis Group, which included Lt. Gen. James Hughes, Larkin and newspaper publisher Everett Smith. Together they were instrumental in assisting with the establishment of the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor.

After the Hall of Honor was built, Farina commented: “It took 11 years of planning and frustration to bring the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor to reality. I now have heartfelt satisfaction knowing it not only enshrines the names of many of my friends but also all others so deserving of this honor. This was the inspiration that afforded me the determination to continue with this effort over these 11 years. Each of the names preserved here are deserving of the honor accorded them. I feel comfort when I visit the ‘Hall’ because I know I am among my friends,” Farina said.

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