John Farrell, who led Daily Bread for 10 years, dies at 80
MELBOURNE — John Farrell, the longtime executive director of the Daily Bread soup kitchen who called attention to the plight of Brevard County’s growing homeless population, died Thursday after a medical procedure.
Farrell, who survived a diagnosis of terminal cancer for several years to oversee the building of affordable housing for families in need, was 80.
The Daily Bread opened its doors in January 1988 to the homeless, not far from downtown Melbourne. Farrell was its executive director for 10 years, making phone calls, standing before the city council and visiting churches to talk about the mission of serving those without shelter, family and friends pointed out.
“John Farrell’s commitment to help those in need in our community through the Daily Bread and St. Stephen’s Way will be sorely missed,” Melbourne Mayor Paul Alfrey said, referring to the affordable housing program.
“John never took no for an answer and I thank him for that.”
Farrell was also vice chair of a 15-member Brevard County Emergency Shelter Task Force, started by the Brevard County Commission to address what was becoming a burgeoning problem of sheltering the homeless.
"He was very driven," said Leanna Farrell, his wife of 42 years. "He wouldn't give up when it came to the homeless. He was really following the Lord's direction."
More: Brevard remembers the homeless who died in 2023
At Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in Indialantic, where Farrell served as a deaconm, the Rev. Scott Circe announced Farrell’s passing to the congregation.
“Please keep his wife Leanna and his family in prayer during this challenging time,” Circe said in an email sent out Friday.
Farrell, who loved to play hockey as a child, grew up in Longmeadow, Mass., and attended Western New England University, where he studied accounting. Farrell later worked in the corporate world and became president of United Software Associates.
He stepped down as director of the Daily Bread in 2017 after the cancer diagnosis. He was succeeded by Jeff Njus.
Despite the diagnosis, Farrell continued to contribute to his community.
"God wasn't finished with him and soon he was asked to help work with St. Stephen's Way," Leanna Farrell said of her husband's work with the nonprofit organization. Farrell later served as St. Stephen's Way executive director, a role he maintained until his passing.
"He had an incredible spirit," she said.
Farrell is survived by his wife Leanna, six children and 26 grandchildren. Funeral announcements will be finalized later.
J.D. Gallop is a criminal justice/breaking news reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Gallop at 321-917-4641 or jgallop@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @JDGallop.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: John Farrell, who headed Melbourne's Daily Bread, dies at 80
