Carlo A. Farina (Father)

Jesuit Father Carlo A. Farina, long time English teacher at Bellarmine College Preparatory and admissions officer at Santa Clara University, entered into God’s peace May 22, 2017 at Sacred Heart Jesuit Center, Los Gatos. He was 83 years old.

Fr. Farina was born in Los Angeles on March 10, 1934. Around 1940, his family relocated to San Jose and Fr. Farina attended St. Leo’s Grammar School and Bellarmine College Preparatory, where he was involved in debating and publishing the school newspaper. Upon graduation, he, along with several classmates, entered the Jesuit Novitiate at Los Gatos in Aug. 1951 and followed the course of training for the priesthood. His studies took him to Spokane for philosophy, to San Francisco for teaching experience at St. Ignatius High School (1958-60) and at Bellarmine (1960-61). Theology studies were made at Alma College, Los Gatos, and Fr. Farina was ordained to the priesthood in San Francisco on June 5, 1964.

With studies completed, Fr. Farina returned to Bellarmine in 1966, teaching English and twice chairing the department. For some years, he also had charge of the boarding students. In 1981-83, he taught English at St. Ignatius in San Francisco. In 1983, he deferred a sabbatical at Santa Clara University to take up a position in undergraduate admissions as assistant director. For the next 15 years, he read thousands of applications and travelled extensively across the country on recruiting trips for the university. Finally taking the sabbatical in 1998, Fr. Farina had some time for theological renewal and reflection.

He once more returned to Bellarmine to direct the English writing center (1999-2000) then served as director of alumni outreach until 2008. After a one-year assignment as associate pastor of St. Ignatius Loyola Church, Sacramento, Fr. Farina came to Sacred Heart Jesuit Center, Los Gatos, in 2009, where he continued his pastoral ministry at local parishes.

Fr. Farina is survived by his twin sister, Maria Menard, of Meridian, Idaho, nieces and nephews, and is fondly remembered by his many close friends.