Nancy Louise Farrar
Nancy Farrar traveled on the RMS Queen Elizabeth to Southampton, England in 1949, the summer before her senior year at Stanford. Nancy’s trip to Europe with life-long friends, led to an ardent interest in traveling abroad. Still wishing she could travel, Nancy passed away in the early morning of April 9th. She had happily celebrated her 90th birthday three weeks before.
Nancy was born on March 15, 1928 in Visalia, California. She spent an idyllic childhood on a ranch in Tulare. Nancy was called “Louise” by her family, honoring her maternal grandmother, Louisa Lombardi Giannini.
Nancy graduated from Dominican Convent High School and maintained many friendships and associations from her time there. She met her future husband, William Rodgers Farrar, by chance in an English Literature class during her freshman year at Stanford. Nancy and Bill would have been married 68 years this coming September 9th.
Nancy was formerly on the board of the San Domenico School, the San Francisco Ballet Guild Auxiliary and the Mothers’ Club of St. Raymond’s, where her children attended school. She was a member of the Friends of Filoli, the Valley Auxiliary Family Service Agency, the WoodsideAtherton Auxiliary to (the former) Stanford Children’s Hospital and Stanford Associates. When her children were young, she volunteered at the Traditional Shop at Allied Arts Guild.
Nancy was proud of her volunteer work at Stanford, from binding slides in the old Art History building to working on the Big Auction in 1997, the 100th Anniversary of the Stanford/Cal Big Game. The Big Auction was a wonderful event, held at the Cow Palace, celebrating two rival universities.
Nancy took many French cooking classes at a time when Julia Childs was becoming popular. She enjoyed cooking for friends and tried out many unusualsounding, but delicious French dishes on her family.
Nancy loved her family first, then her home and lovely garden. She often gave away her carefullytended Queen Elizabeth roses to friends. She was an elegant woman, who always prized good manners. She also had a definite opinion about how her family should conduct themselves. We did our best and will miss her very much.
In addition to Bill, Nancy is survived by her children, Caroline Farrar Grey and William Rodgers Farrar, Jr., her grandchildren, Kelly Hitchcock, Tyler Farrar and Dylan Farrar and a sister-inlaw, Claribel Lagomarsino. She was predeceased by her parents, Elrena and Fred Lagomarsino, her brother, Frank Lagomarsino and a daughter, Michele Louise Farrar.
A private family Mass was held in May. In lieu of customary remembrances, contributions may be made to San Domenico School, 1500 Butterfield Road, San Anselmo, California 94960, Attention: Memorial Fund/ Scholarships.