Stephen Victor Farrell

Stephen Victor Farrell, born March 4, 1950, passed away on April 23, 2024. Steve was the son of Victor and Dorothy Farrell and (older) twin-brother to Sandy Mattone whose husband, Gerry, was more like a brother to Steve. He married his soulmate, Kathy Farrell, on September 10th, 1977. During their 46 years of marriage, they followed their dreams around the state while growing their family with two children, Victoria and Adam, whom he loved beyond words, and raised many of his favorite dog breed, German Shorthair Pointers. While an incredible husband and father, Steve was an even better Grandfather to his 3 precious Grandchildren- Cole, MacKenzie, and Carter.

Steve graduated high school in 1968 from Warren Area High School and attended Pennsylvania College of Technology, majoring in Forestry.

Steve began his career with what is now DCNR as a Forest Technician assigned to the District 15 Office in Coudersport on Dec. 16, 1970. After several promotions and transfers, he became Park Superintendent I in October 1978 as the Work Unit Coordinator for the residential Young Adult Conservation Corps Camp in Quehanna. He remained there until the program ended in December 1981. In January 1982, he became an Administrative Assistant I and then Administrative Assistant II in the Department of Environmental Protection Regional Office in Williamsport. Steve was promoted to Park and Recreations Advisor II in 1984, after being hired by the Office of Planning and Development in Harrisburg to help establish the Pennsylvania Conservation Corps Program. His most beloved promotion came when he stepped into the role as a Park Manager at the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon from 1986 until 1999, when he became a Park Operations Manager I at the Cook Forest and Clear Creek Complex where he remained until he retired in 2004. Steve finished his working career in 2022 as the weighmaster for the Tioga Quarry.

Throughout his career, he was a volunteer fireman, member of the Jaycees, an EMT, he assisted in search and rescue, hurricane rescue and cleanup, fighting wildfires, and was a firearms instructor. He acquired numerous accommodations including the 1999 recipient of the State Park Directors Award for outstanding performance.

While enjoying his retirement, he continued being an avid outdoorsman, tying flies, reloading, working around his Middlebury Center home, and reminding everyone he was retired as he found more projects to start (which everyone prayed didn’t involve plumbing). He passed his love and respect of the outdoors to his children, who accompanied him on his many adventures and acted as witnesses to his many “great moments”. To this day, his family and friends can recount a handful of his “oldies but goodies” stories including every mannerism and embellishment because every good story needs some extra pizzaz.

He was always very involved within the community including travel and tourism organizations. Steve was Vice President of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge in Bradford and Tioga Counties and a member of the Tioga Masons Lodge #373 and the Valley of Coudersport Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite.

His life and legacy will be honored on Saturday May 4, 2024 with visitations from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm at Tussey-Mosher Funeral Home 139 Main St. Wellsboro, PA, and the family welcomes all to attend. A memorial service will take place for all on Sunday May 5, 2024 at 11 am at Tussey-Mosher Funeral Home in Wellsboro, PA. In lieu of flowers, the family asks you please make a donation in Steve’s memory to the PA Parks and Forests Foundation: paparksandforests.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/

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To share a memory or condolence with his family visit: www.tusseymosher.com.