Always In Our Hearts, Never Forgotten



OUR LOVING FRIEND DONALD 



Don was many things to many people in his 78 years of life.

Born in Carey Idaho, on May 20, 1927, he was the son of Nettie Gifford Farnworth

and Henry Farnworth. He was a brother to Allen, who is since deceased, and is survived by his other brother Farrin of Emmett Idaho and sister Lois Dennis of Provo Utah. 

Growing up as a boy, Don was always thinking about traveling and doing big things with his life and his passions; dance and theater. Don’s parents had a love for dancing and would bring the children on weekends to church dances where Don, his sister and brothers all developed their own love of dancing. Although he had been exposed to theater and dance in his small Idaho town, Don knew he would someday have to travel to the big city to pursue his dreams. Don contracted polio while he was young and eventually overcame the paralyzing disease. Don was a frequent sufferer of ear infections as a child eventually resulting in partial deafness in one ear. 

Don entered the military in 1943 at the age of 18. While in the Army, he received an honorable discharge due to his deafness and returned to Idaho where he studied dance at the Dori Moon Dance Studio in Boise Idaho. With Don’s abilities, his teacher’s told him they couldn’t teach him much more so he soon left Idaho for NYC to pursue his dream of becoming a professional dancer. With his talent and good looks, he quickly became well known in the circles of dance, ballet and theater. 

Don performed on Broadway in the original “Bye Bye Birdie” with the likes of Chita Rivera and Dick Vandyke and other original cast members. He danced and acted in a number of other shows and productions like “Shinbone Alley”, further developing his talents and also his own style and eventually his own dance and teaching techniques which he moved on to teach to a large number of students and industry greats in his own NYC dance school and rightfully earned the title of “Ballet Master”.

Don went on to choreograph and contribute to a number of productions and was well respected and loved in many communities.

Don settled in West Milford, NJ and had traveled throughout Europe, eventually buying a small place in Athens, Greece in his later years where he would vacation. He taught dance in Greece, worked on clients and friends and developed his own style and techniques in the specialties of Shiatsu and Reiki for which he became certified as a “Reiki Master”.

Don had an intense intuition for the body and the human form.

He treated and administered care to a number of clients, patients and friends in his lifetime.

He was a natural healer and a generous friend with a big heart.

Don was also a survivor. He suffered from a fall in his later years and injured his hip resulting in the shortening of one leg and a noticeable limp. Don, eventually had a hip replacement, got rid of his shoe lift, and kept on keepin’ on. At 66, Don suffered a serious stroke while in Greece. Don was finally well enough to come home and with the help of his friends he made a full recovery utilizing the techniques he developed to help himself with rehabilitation. Despite life’s handicaps, he continued his work unhindered and as strong as ever. He was a very strong man in body and mind. The “Farnworth Techniques” he created are still being taught today by several of his protégées.

Despite the challenges Don faced, he always had a positive outlook, never complaining about his conditions, especially towards the end; always independent, with a great sense of humor and always optimistic about tomorrow. Don was an inspiration, a teacher and most of all; Don was a great friend to many individuals.

Don, we all love you very much and will miss you dearly, and until we see you again, we will keep your memory and loving, guiding friendship and teachings close to our hearts. 



DONALD J. FARNWORTH 

MAY 20, 1927 – FEBRUARY 20, 2006 - (Obituary)

FARNWORTH- Donald J., of West Milford, on February 20, 2006, in his 78 year. Loving brother of Farrin Farnworth, and Lois Dennis. Also survived by many treasured nieces and nephews. Relatives and friends are invited to The Morrison Funeral Home, 86 Bartholdi Ave, Butler, NJ, at 10 am on Friday, February 24, 2006, where a funeral service will be held at 11AM. Visiting, 6-9pm, Thursday. The final disposition will be in private.

Guestbook 

Marianne McKernan of Charlottesville, Virginia
March 03, 2006
With sincere sympathy for your loss of a very sweet man! Hugs, Marianne

Barb
March 01, 2006
What a beautiful tribute!
What a lucky man to have such good friends and have lived such a full life!

Susan and Bruce Breeman of Beachwood, New Jersey
February 23, 2006
We send our thoughts and sympathies to family and friends.

John & Gerry Bergantino of Kennesaw, Georgia
February 22, 2006
Dearest Friend of many years.
Our hearts are sadden by the loss of not only of a dear friend but by Don who we spent many years together and loved.
You will always be remembered for your loving kindness and close friendship in our family.
May your road to heaven be a reunion with those you loved, especially with our belated cousin Robert Hauer who Don lived with for many years. Don was not only a dear friend but part of our family. May you rest in peace with those you loved.
Our Thanks to you David for being at Don's side throughout his time of need. David you have an open invitation to our home. Thanks for being with Don he spoke highly of you many times.

Tracy of Andover, NJ
February 22, 2006
May the beautiful memories of Don and the lives of all those he touched throughout his life remain in your hearts forever, he was a wonderful, gentle and kind man with a twinkle in his eyes that never dimmed.
You will be missed but never forgotten!
Our deepest sympathies.
Tracy & Allan Brucato

Tracy of Green, NJ
February 22, 2006
May Beautiful Memories of Don and all of his glorious life accomplishments, give you strength at this difficult time.
He touched our lives and will never be forgotten.
With deepest sympathy,
Tracy & Allan Brucato

Paul Valvo of Wantage, NJ
February 22, 2006
What can you say about a guy like Don?
He was an excellent friend and teacher who taught me many things and helped me whenever I was in need. His heart was bigger than he was.
I always admired Don for how he was independent and did exactly what he wanted to do in life...and did it well.
Don was an inspiration to many people and he will be missed.

With much love,

Paul Valvo
Wantage, NJ

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Bye Bye Birdie Footage

I found this original footage today on YouTube. It's amazing. Although Don is not in this clip, it is the closest I have come to finding any footage of the original cast members and that original performance. Check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-GQIsE80Ug&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Happy Birthday Don 2010

Another year has passed without our friend Don. Right about now, he would be digging his garden and cutting some flowers to bring inside. His black Iris was his favorite. Outside, in his Galabia...(don't ask) and cursing the landscaper kid who cut down his Lilacs. Tea in the morning, traveling into NYC well past the age he should have been allowed to drive, going to teach or treat his clients who adored his intuative sense of dance, form and function. His healing hands or friendly companionship always made people feel better and he was always willing to help. Stray cats, stray people and yes, friends who's life wouldn't be the same without his influence. Atleast, I know this is true for me. Lending me his old Buick station wagon to travel to Jersey City for work when I found myself unemployed, Letting me stay in his home when I had none. Sharing a cup of tea and a story of times gone bye with Bert or Artie, those days will always be indellibly marked in my memory and I am greatful as I know many of his friends and family are.
So, happy birthday Don and we celebrate your life and influence, but most of all we cherish your friendship and unconditional love.

We miss you and will see you soon.

Don's Birthday

What can I say but Happy Birthday my friend. I miss and think of you often. Just like my dad, you're in my thoughts daily and I remember all the great times we sat to talk over tea at your house. We adopted Sadie from the pound in NYC on your bithday one spring. I remember it like it was yesterday. We joked because you were Taurus and I am Gemini. Now is the time you would be out in your garden enjoying your lilacs and the iris were just about in bloom. Often you already started your garden...a small plot but always productive just the same. You weren't fussy, you'd plant tomatoes anywhere there was room and always said, "maybe this year the peach tree would make peaches" Ironically, the year after you left us, the tree made many fruit like never before. We love and miss you Don and your kindness and friendship is everlasting. Thanks for being such a good friend.

Your friend always,

Paul

Happy Birthday Donald - May 20

hi don,you're in my thoughts so much, and i want to wish you a nice birthday in that great place you're in, and i know that your friends still think about you a lot. you are remembered and loved. and you did so much good for me, personally, and i will never forget how much you gave me.

signed,
love to dance

SAYING FAREWELL TO A FRIEND

don was a really giving person......really unselfish. and he wasn't even a relative of mine, but he actually cared about the people he worked with, and he became a friend, even if i didn't get the full impact of it at the time..........i just depended on him so much.........every single physical problem i had.....that doctors didn't know a thing about and couldn't fix.........he could..........i had a badly sprained ankle that wouldn't heal for 7 months, and don knew exactly what was wrong, and after working with him, it was stronger than before the sprain. and i think i would have been an invalid as far as my back, if i didn't know don. and he had such a mind-body way of working, it was really incredible. i wish he could have seen me "grow up," the way i've been doing lately........i was more immature when i knew him. he didn't baby me at all, and could be pretty tough, probably because he realized i wanted to take the easy way out a lot, but he was able to talk about things, and be tolerant when we talked. i really miss don, and i still can't believe he's gone. don........i loved you, even if i couldn't have told you that when you were alive, but i hope it's not too late to say it. don......you were a good person. is the food good where you are? i bet it's good.......because you're in a great place now.........requiem aeternam, don, requiem aeternam. i'm going to play faure's requiem for you now so you'll have some lovely music, too, where you are.

..........signed,
love to dance.

Don Farnworth - Ballet Master, Teacher, Friend

This photo was one I obtained from Don's personal collection and shows Don teaching a ballet class in NYC. I am not sure about the date of this photo and I don't know the identities of any of his students shown but the "Farnworth Technique" is still being taught in NYC by one of Don's dedicated students (Cynthia Vallone) who I was lucky enough to contact just today and catch up on some memories of Don.

Don Farnworth performing in Button & Beau. Don had many talents. One of course was dance. He was not only handsome but a very talented dancer in his time.

Bye Bye Birdie - Original Cast Member

Don Farnworth was the Reporter in the original cast of "Bye Bye Birdie" starring Dick VanDyke and Chita Rivera.

Don was a very expressive entertainer and person. He had many expressions, all of which conveyed emotion and his great passion for life. Although not confirmed, this photo shows Don during his days as a Broadway performer and comes from his personal portfolio. I was lucky enough to obtain access to these photos by permission of his family friend, David Osterhoudt.