Services set for April 18, 2008 at 9:00 a.m. in San Diego
Update 4/3/08: Thanks to Barry Woolery for passing along some photos of Gene Farnum. The one below was taken at the old fields at the Barona Indian Reservation, near San Diego, which played host to the So Cal Travel league for a number of years. Gene is shown pitching for Barry’s team, “Scottys”. A bit of gray in Geno’s beard by then, but that familiar upright pitching form, with that big right arm coming through on the delivery. As noted below, services to be held on April 18, 2008.
(click photo to enlarge)
Click here for another photo of Gene, on the follow through.
(click photo to enlarge)
Here’s one that Geno would have liked, with his teammates. That’s the big man right in the center, back row, with the beard and sunglasses. The 1980 Rangers finished 5th in the ASA “A” Nationals that year in Oswego, New York, coming home with stories to tell, and inspiring many local So Cal teams to battle to get to nationals. (That’s young Barry Woolery in the enlarged version, seated, front row, far right). Barry, readers might recall is the artist that painted Hall of Famer Greg Sepulveda.
Full size team photo (click above to enlarge): Back row, L to R, Frank Westbrook, Wayne Daniel, John Willis, Geno Farnum, Keith Wren, Alan Rohrback, Jeff Leuthard and Clarence Davis; Middle row, L to R: Lowen Cook, Kim Pulliam, Motor City Mike Allen, Glenn Woolery, Willie Holt, Vince Fernandez, and Butchie (the young boy next to Vince); Bottom row, L to R: Jeff Simpson, Henry Salmon, Bobby Siquieros, Randy Irvin and Barry Woolery.
Update: 3/31/2008: The funeral service for Gene Farnum is on Friday, April 18, at 9:00 a.m. at:
Fort Rosecrans Cemetery
1880 Cabrillo Memorial Dr
San Diego, CA 92106
(619) 553-2084
I regret to report the passing of Gene Farnum. No details on funeral services yet, except that it will be at Fort Rosecrans Cemetery in Point Loma
Gene pitched for the Long Beach Nitehawks in the late 1970’s, behind hall-of-famer Bob Todd, and with the El Cajon Rangers, who took 5th in the 1980 ASA “A” Nationals in Oswego, New York, and also for the Stanley Andrews team during the 1970’s. Former teammate Barry Woolery recalled Farnum:
“Gene played for me on Scotty’s and was one of the funniest dry-humor guys I’ve ever known. He was instrumental in our 1980 El Cajon Rangers taking fifth in the ASA “A” Nationals in Oswego, N.Y.” I have many great memories of him and much respect and love.”
Editor’s note: I also had the privilege of playing alongside “Geno”. In 1983 Vista Bomber skipper Cory Davis signed Gene to pitch for us when John Odell caught a line drive that broke the index finger on his pitching hand in the very first game of the year. I recall sitting with him in the dugout at the ASA qualifier at Joe Rodgers later that year. He was joking with the players, keeping everybody loose. Having played for the legendary Nitehawks, he remained down to earth, more than happy to drive to dusty old fields, just to play the game.