Obituary of Carmine Farina

C.W. “Bill” Farina, 90, went to be with his Lord on Christmas Eve morning, December 24, 2023.  After many months in and out of hospitals, at home wound care nursing visits, forty Hyperbaric Chamber “dives,”  and one week of St. Francis Reflections Hospice care, he passed into Eternity peacefully at home with family by his side.

Born in Brooklyn, NY on May 7, 1933, he was affectionally dubbed “Brooklyn Billy.”  He met the love of his life, Lois Spinelli, in 1950, when they were 17 and 15, respectively.  Bill enlisted in the Navy in 1951 and served on the USS Cony during the Korean War as Radar Man 3^rd Class. After four years’ service,  Bill and Lois married in October 1955. After welcoming son, Billy to start their family in 1956, the young family moved from New York to Brevard County, Florida in 1958.  Bill “Sr.” was employed as a draftsman at RCA at the Tech Lab on Patrick Air Force Base (now, Patrick Space Force Base).  Bill and Lois built their first home on the sands of South Patrick Shores and in 1960, daughter Donna completed their family.

Bill and Lois, along with dear friends and business partners, Ron and Pat Tase, became restauranteurs with the 1971 purchase of the Old Fisherman’s Wharf, located in Cocoa Beach. For nearly thirty years, the Wharf held wide fame, hosting NASA astronauts, national dignitaries, celebrities, and thousands of area residents and visitors. Bill retired from RCA in 1988 after 30 years, and the couple closed the OFW restaurant to happy memories in 2001.

Bill volunteered and served the community in numerous ways throughout the years: founding members of Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, and active in a number of its early ministries: Platinum Coast Little League Baseball Coach; twice President of Brevard Chapter of Florida Restaurant Association; thirteen years as a King Center for the Performing Arts Volunteer; Daily Bread Kitchen Volunteer; member of the Italian-American Club, and a pillar of the community. His hobbies included fishing, woodworking, stained glass artwork, bowling, softball, Shepherd Center classes, and boating. In the early years, he enjoyed “Beach-Nuts” themed get togethers with their closest friends, holiday poker and margaritas with the familia, Bingo and Casino games, and puttering in his garage workshop while maintaining a lush and lovely lawn with a natural green thumb.

Bill was preceded in death by his loving parents, Anna & William A. Farina; adoring older sisters, Virginia Farina Carpenter, Marie Farina Furlong, and Bernadette Farina.  He is survived by his loving wife of 68 years, Lois Spinelli Farina; son, Bill Farina and his wife, Cathy; daughter, Donna Farina Anderson and her husband, Bob; granddaughters, Jennifer Turner Lopez and Laura Farina Riley and her husband, Mike; grandson, William Farina, Jr. and his wife, Cristina; great-grandchildren, Everett William Riley and Allison Elizabeth Riley.

In lieu of  flowers, donations would be gratefully accepted by Saint Stephen’s Way, 2310 Lipscomb Street, Melbourne, Florida 32901, www.ssway.org , John Farrell, Executive Director, 321-306-8873.