Tim Farrell, co-founder of firefighter fund, dies

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Tim Farrell, who with his brother Brian, helped found the Terry Farrell Firefighter’s Fund in honor of his brother, died on Dec. 14 of esophageal cancer.  He was 62.

Terry Farrell was serving with Rescue Company 4 on Sept 11, 2001, when his unit responded to a call at the World Trade Center. He was in Tower II — the south tower — when it collapsed shortly before 10 a.m. More than 400 emergency workers and first responders were killed in the attacks, along with more than 2,300
civilians.

The Terry Farrell Fund was established in his memory, and in the 18 years since, Tim Farrell and his brothers helped first responders establish chapters in 17 states, providing emergency equipment and holding blood drives and fundraisers, as well as awarding scholarships.

In the past 10 years alone, the fund has raised more than $3.5 million for first responders and their families and has donated nearly $5 million in equipment. With only days to live, Farrell oversaw a fundraiser that provided another $12,000.

Farrell and his brother started the fund with the sale of T-shirts in memory of their brother. When the shirts netted more than $10,000, the brothers realized they could continue Terry’s mission of service. Sponsors have included bourbon distiller Jim Beam, which donated more than a half-million dollars.

In addition to New York, the fund currently has chapters in 17 states, including California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Nevada.

Timothy Michael Farrell was born on Sept 17, 1957 to Joseph M. and Ruth Kelly Farrell.  The elder Farrell worked as a building inspector for the Town of Oyster Bay. The family moved from Hicksville to East Meadow and, eventually, to Elmhurst, Queens. He attended Hicksville High School and Marysville College in Tennessee.

For nearly 40 years, he was the proprietor of R.P. Murphy’s Public House
in Wantagh, before his family sold it late in 2018.

He is survived by his wife Alice (O’Keefe) and his brothers Brian, Dennis, Kevin and Kieran.

Funeral Mass was held on Dec. 21 at St. Frances de Chantal Catholic Church in Wantagh. Burial followed at Pinelawn Memorial Park in Farmingdale.