Obituary of John B. Farnham

Farnham, John B. John peacefully slipped out of this world to begin his next adventure, on Sunday July 19, 2015. His adventures began in St. Louis on March 29, 1946. Always a music lover, John loved to sing; he played the violin, the bass fiddle, the tuba, and the guitar; a natural athlete, he wrestled and played football in high school and college. John received his BS degree in speech pathology from Truman University in 1968 and worked in the public schools in Missouri as a speech therapist. In 1972, John began his work for the Easter Seals Society, as a speech therapist and then as a regional director. John’s dedication to the Easter Seal Society took him to Lansing Michigan, where he served as the Executive Director of the Mid-Michigan Easter Seals Chapter 1975-78. John began his long career with the Associated General Contractors 1978 in Lansing; he subsequently worked for AGC in Detroit, Virginia, and Connecticut. John was the executive director of the AGC of Connecticut from 1991 – 2009, and served as director of administrative affairs for the Connecticut Construction Industries Association. John supported construction industries partnerships, working together effectively to seek solutions. Never short on ideas or enthusiasm, John enjoyed the challenge of bringing opposing views to the table to create like minds. He never liked to turn down a challenge or say no – he genuinely enjoyed reaching out to help those who came to him. He helped develop a Labor-Management Coalition within the commercial construction industry; helped establish CT First, a coalition between minority construction, the building trades unions and the AGC of Connecticut Labor Relations Division. He also used his can-do-attitude to coordinate a major volunteer effort from the construction industry to secure donations of labor, materials and supervision for Ann’s Place, a five million dollar cancer care center in Danbury, which now provides services to patients and their families who are dealing with cancer. John utilized his vast resource of construction information as he served on several national and state organizations to help in the shaping of policy and regulations for the commercial construction industry. He worked to get Connecticut’s Prequalification of Contractors Program initiated at the Department of Administrative Services. His efforts helped in establishing a bill to ensure that only qualified and experienced contractors would be allowed to perform work on Connecticut public construction projects. John helped establish the Hartford Construction Jobs Initiative, known as the “jobs funnel,” which recruits, trains and places Hartford residents into construction careers through apprenticeship programs and area contractors. He also organized the Young Contractors Forum, a group for young construction professionals which offers educational and networking opportunities. He served as national chairman of the AGC of America Executive Leadership council in 2007; previously president of the Connecticut Society of Association Executives, and served on the International Foundation of employee Benefit Plans; the Carpenters Pension, Health and Annuity Trust Funds; CT State Apprenticeship Council; the MDC Advisory Board; the DPW Industry Advisory Council; and the Board of Governors of the Construction Institute at the University of Hartford. John is predeceased by his parents Clarence and Jean Farnham and his brother Thomas. He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Jan Edmondson, his daughter Elizabeth Farnham, his sisters Mary Rueschhoff and Laura Sullivan, his brother David Farnham, as well as two nieces and two nephews. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in John’s memory may be made to Ann’s Place or the Easter Seals Society. Arrangements for a celebration of John’s life will be announced. For online condolences please visit www.mulryanfh.com.