By Andrew Hackmack
He spent two years as a village trustee, coached baseball, been involved with the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, and served his church. Last week he was presented with the Kiwanis Club's Man of the Year Award for his many years of the service to the organization and the community.
"I think there comes a time where you have to take stock of an individual's accomplishments in his community," said Village Justice Bob Bogle, "and the time has come to acknowledge Frank's contributions."
Bogle said he has known Farella for more than 35 years. He described the man of the year as a "go-to guy" with a great sense of humor and a positive attitude.
Farella grew up in Brooklyn and moved to Valley Stream 49 years ago. He raised four children in the village -- three who graduated from Central High School and one who attended Chaminade. He now has 13 grandchildren and that it what inspires his community service. "In Kiwanis, the first priority is children," Farella said.
He is very involved with the Kiwanis project to provide Pediatric Trauma Kits for local emergency personnel and area schools. Farella explained that all ambulances in the Valley Stream area have been outfitted with these kits, as have Blessed Sacrament and Holy Name of Mary schools. Now, the Kiwanis Club is trying to provide kits for the public schools.
Farella recalled an instance where a speaker came to a Kiwanis Club meeting, to talk about an unrelated issue, and the man happened to bring his son. "It was very coincidental that his son had been saved using one of our pediatric trauma kits," Farella said.
The trauma kits are put together by a group of volunteers. Kiwanis must raise the funds for the items inside the kits. The organization has recently been assisted in its fundraising efforts by the knitting club at Monica Village, a senior housing complex in Valley Stream.
In 1976, Farella was appointed to fill a vacancy on the village board during Dominick Minerva's administration. He has been a den leader for Cub Scout Pack 369, served on the financial board for Blessed Sacrament Church, is former president of the church's Holy Name Society, been a coach for the Valley Stream Mail League and has been involved with the Elks Club and the Knights of Columbus St. Therese Council.
He has been a member of the Kiwanis Club and served for three years as president. He is currently serving as secretary where he is responsible for collecting dues and handling all the organization's paperwork.
Kiwanis Club President Robert Coppola said that Farella has helped organize several events for Kiwanis including pancake breakfasts and Atlantic City trips. Money raised from those events goes right back to the community.
"He's a man that doesn't say no," Coppola said of Farella. "He just keeps on doing, doing, and doing. He was just due for a little thank you."
Coppola said Farella has also represented the Kiwanis Club to present scholarships at the local high schools. "He's just very nice, very polite, very well spoken," Coppola said. "He just operates as a gentleman."
Farella owns a company that manufactures metal components primarily for the Aerospace industry. He said they once built parts that were used for the Lunar Module.
Bogle recalled a project where Farella was trying to exchange village, town and county flags with a village in Italy. Bogle said he was able to secure Farella a Nassau County flag. "Frank always has interesting projects going," he said.
Farella recounted how he first became involved with the Kiwanis Club. He bought a raffle ticket from a Kiwanis member and ended up winning the $1,000 grand prize. From there, he learned about what the organization does to benefit the Valley Stream community.
He said he never does his good deeds for the recognition, but was still honored to be selected as man of the year. "I don't look for things like this," Farella said. "When I think it's a worthwhile cause, I do it."
