Leonard Farr Obituary

Farr
Leonard Alfred "Al" Farr
March 19, 1947
June 26, 2024

Leonard Alfred ("Al") Farr passed away peacefully and surrounded by family and dear friends on June 26, 2024. Diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2017, Al bravely and optimistically faced his illness. He maintained a five-day-a-week fitness routine and healthy (mostly!) diet that kept him strong and resilient until experiencing complications following emergency surgery.

Al was born March 19, 1947, in Pleasant Hill, Louisiana, to Gladys Elizabeth Farr and Leonard Wilbur Farr. He grew up with his younger brother, John Thomas Farr, in Shreveport, Louisiana, and attended Louisiana State University, earning a B.S. in Zoology. While at LSU in August 1968, Al met Barbara Jean Persinger on a blind date. On September 1, 1969, they started what became a nearly 55-year marriage.

Al served as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army 197th Medical Detachment during the Vietnam War, and subsequently earned an M.H.A. from Washington University in St. Louis. Al and Barb moved to Colorado Springs in 1976 and he began a 20-year tenure as a chief executive officer at Community Hospital, St. Francis Hospital, and Penrose-St. Francis Health System. Among his proudest professional accomplishments were completing the merger of Penrose and St. Francis hospitals in 1990, building a comprehensive cancer center in 1992, and navigating the integration of Penrose-St. Francis into the nascent Centura Health in 1995. Al continued his career with UnitedHealthcare in Minnetonka, Minnesota, and retired to Colorado Springs in 2002.

Though he would defer all credit to Barb, Al enthusiastically helped raise five children: Liz (Randy), John (Lisa), Becky, Dave (Emily) and Debbi (Jay). He prioritized time with his children, supported their interests and celebrated their accomplishments. He cherished his nine grandchildren: Izzy, Axel, Josh, Gabby, Griffen, Layla, Calvin, Desmond and Holland. His children, children-in-law and grandchildren witnessed how he lived his core values of honesty, integrity, fairness, faith, compassion and hard work in everything he did. They also knew how much he cared for them: Al did not hide his love for and pride in his family, and considered them his greatest achievement.

Friends and colleagues also knew how much Al valued them, and he was deeply loyal. Friendships from childhood through his retirement era at the Broadmoor Golf Club endured until the end. His friends and colleagues within the Penrose-St. Francis community provided invaluable support and companionship as he and Barb dealt with health challenges in recent years.

Al found things he loved – raw oysters, extra cold Bombay Sapphire martinis, "real" key lime pie, great music (Willie, Beatles, Stones), Porsches, LSU football – and stuck with them. He tried new things but knew what worked for him. His charisma, kindness and sense of humor endeared him to everyone he met. Where he could offer insight, guidance or assistance, Al was generous and quick to act. He made a lasting impact on the people in his life and will be deeply missed. There is a moment when the memory of someone lost brings gratefulness instead of sadness, and those who knew Al Farr are in for an abundance of gratitude.

A memorial mass will be held at St. Paul Catholic Church on Friday July 19, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Parkinson's disease charity of your choice or to the Myron Stratton Home, where Al served as a Board Trustee from 2009 to 2019.