Many remember the late John E. Faria for his devotion to the Democratic Party and his hometown

The town of Bristol lost one of its most revered citizens recently, a man so dedicated to his hometown and politically motivated, many compared him (because of his good looks and swagger) to the late president John F. Kennedy, whose portrait hung proudly in his Hope Street office for as long as anyone can remember.

John E. Faria, 87, the son of proud Portuguese immigrants, John P. and Edwina (Costa) Faria, passed from this Earth on Nov. 20, leaving behind his adoring wife, Patricia E. (Pastore), three loving children, Kimberly, Jeffrey (Dede Sienkiewicz), Jonathan (Tracey Robinson) and four beloved grandchildren, Kyle (Kim Liveiros), Jared, Tyler and Kaia. He is also survived by one great-grandchild, Alaina.

There aren’t many people left in this community from his generation who don’t recall this man’s allegiance to local town government or the faith he had as a longtime parishioner at St. Elizabeth’s Church. Even in recent years, John found the strength to march alongside his wife during Santo Cristo Feast processions and other religious feasts. He was that devoted to his parish.

One of John’s great admirers and closest friends was Douglas Gablinske, who credits John for whetting his political appetite.

“I first met John Faria in 1970 when I was 17 years old and a senior at Bristol High School,” he recalled. “I was senior class president at the time, while he was chairman of the Bristol Town Council. So, I sought him out to discuss politics. He convinced me to become a Democrat. I will never forget that day my Dad died in a horrific vehicular accident as a pedestrian in front of the family homestead on Greylock Road in 1971. John was one of the first people on the scene, even before some of the first responders, as he was an avid police scanner listener and knew it happened and immediately came to comfort me. That became a lifelong friendship.”

He concluded, “John was there for me when I got elected to the Town Council and State Representative with accolades and criticism when both needed to be heard. He was a true friend.  He fought back his cancer until the very end. I will miss John dearly and have many fond memories. I loved that man and was blessed to have had him in my life.”

A 1955 graduate of the former Colt Memorial high School, John joined the U.S. Navy and served three years on the Intrepid in the Mediterranean Sea. In the 1970s, he enrolled at Roger Williams College and graduated in accounting in 1979 with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

He worked for the R.I. Dept. of Administration for 19 years and prepared taxes for more than 500 families for more than 40 years..

For the record, John was a life-long Democrat, and proud of it.

“Politics was his hobby,” as someone pointed out, “and he was passionate about it.”

John was a member and then President of the Bristol Town Council from 1968 through 1971 and went on to become a Rhode Island state senator. He was also involved in many community, civic, and fellowship activities, including secretary of the Santo Cristo Club, president of the Prince Henry Club, a member of the Knights of Columbus, and co-chairman of the Bristol Tricentennial Celebration. Most recently, he served as a member and chairman of the Bristol Housing Authority for the last 27 years. He was also a member and then chairman of the Bristol Democrat Town Committee for 19 years.

Bristol Housing Authority Executive Director Candace Pansa had this to day about Mr. Faria: “John E. Faria served on the Board of Commissioners of the Bristol Housing Authority for 37 years, and his knowledge and love of Bristol brought so much to the table at our meetings. He enjoyed being on the board, and his goal was to keep Benjamin Church Manor a safe, affordable, and appealing place for our Bristol seniors to call home. He was always kind and had a very dry sense of humor, which we all appreciated. The Board always looked up to him and respected his leadership. His leadership, friendship and kindness were appreciated by all of us at Bristol Housing Authority. He will be missed.”

John’s love for his hometown was further demonstrated at the family homestead on Hope Street at the beginning of the Fourth of July Parade route, where John and his wife, Pat, welcomed both Democrat and Republican governors, U.S. Senators, and Congressmen into his home for a cup of coffee. Why, there was even a time when Dunkin Donuts’ popular advertising character, “Fred the Baker,” stopped by the Farias’ for a cup of coffee on the Fourth of July.

Retired Bristol Town Clerk and Town Administrator Diane C. Mederos said John Faria was very open-minded about things.

“John was chairman of the Bristol Democrat Town Committee during my days as town clerk and town administrator, and what I admired most about him was that he was always willing to listen to others’ point of view, even if he did not agree,” she said. “He was respectful that there is always more than one way to look at an issue.”

State Sen. Walter S. Felag Jr. had this to say about his old friend.

“John was the ultimate community servant who had the unique ability to listen first, and then lead,” he said. “He loved the town of Bristol and greatly contributed to its success. Personally, I’m grateful to his welcoming demeanor as Bristol Democratic chairman when I started representing Bristol in the Rhode Island Senate. He will be dearly missed.”

John was also most proud of the time he served the Social Security Administration of the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, where he served as an instructor of citizenship for immigrants to become U.S. citizens.

“We were all immigrants at one time in this country, and it is immigrants who have made America what it is today,” he said earlier, “and it distresses me to see how immigrants are now being treated, no matter their country of origin.”