Stuart “Stu” Farwell, 87, of Los Altos, California, passed away peacefully on August 11, 2026.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Stu was the son of Arthur Farwell and Ruth (Swanson) Farwell. He grew up in Willow Glen before moving to Los Altos, where he graduated from Mountain View High School. He was a proud Eagle Scout. While in high school, he met Jeanne (Ransom) Farwell. They married in Los Altos and remained devoted partners for nearly seventy years.
Stu dedicated more than 40 years to serving the Los Altos Fire Department and Los Altos Hills County Fire District in fire safety. He began as a volunteer firefighter and went on to serve as Fire Marshal and Assistant Fire Chief, later continuing his work as a fire protection consultant. He was proud of his work and deeply connected to the community he served.
Stu was an active member of Christ Episcopal Church in Los Altos and volunteered at church events. He also volunteered with the Los Altos Art & Wine Festival for 45 years and the Bear Valley Music Festival for close to 15 years, where he and Jeanne provided accommodations and meals for visiting musicians.
Stu loved the outdoors, especially hiking, swimming, fishing, and skiing. He and Jeanne owned a cabin in Bear Valley, where they enjoyed boating on Lake Alpine in the summer and skiing at Mount Reba in the winter.
Stu and Jeanne hosted an annual themed Christmas “tree decorating” party at their home in Mountain View, bringing together people from all walks of life. Stu was well known for making his signature Irish Coffee for the occasion.
Stu is survived by his wife, Jeanne; his son, John Farwell and his wife, Kim; his grandchildren, Kelsey, Corey, and Jason; and his brother, Ned Farwell. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Debbie.
Stu will be remembered as dependable, kind, and trustworthy. He was someone who brought people together and will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
A memorial service will be held at Christ Episcopal Church in Los Altos on Sunday, September 27, at 1:00 p.m., with a reception to follow in the Parish Hall.
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