Lawrence Leroy Fargher

Our beloved father and grandfather, Lawrence Leroy Fargher, known to many as Larry or Duke entered into eternal rest peacefully in his home on June 14th, 2022. Born in Helena, Montana on September 16th, 1932 to the late Lawrence Arthur and Maude Lauson Fargher. Much like his father Larry was a true Manxman to his core; embracing qualities of humorous, witty, and charming. He grew up one of four as a middle child with the oldest sister Billy-Jean, an older brother John, and one younger brother Jim.

Larry obtained a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the University of Nebraska Omaha. During his time in Nebraska, he met the love of his life Camille Marie whom he married on May 16th, 1953 in Dwight, Nebraska. They were married for almost 50 years before Alzheimer’s took Camille. Together they had five children Larry Lee, Leighton, Lauson, Lindel, and Laure. Larry enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1955, where he fell in love with and flew in the B-36 Bomber “Peacemaker” as a gunner. The Airforce took them many places but they ended up buying their first home in Santa Clara in 1959, this is when his love for Santa Clara began. Larry was an active member of the Santa Clara community and was very involved in the growth of the city for over 50 years. He served as Santa Clara Councilman, was former Mayor of the City of Santa Clara from 1964-1965, obtained his MBA from Santa Clara University in 1965, and was an active member of the Santa Clara Rotary club for 48 years until his passing, Larry was A Knights of Columbus Member and active parishioner at St. Lawrence the Marty where his children attended their schools, dedicated to the Carmelite Monastery, Santa Clara landlord, little league coach, and received the Austin Warburton Award from the Mission City Community fund for his years of service to the Santa Clara community.

Many who know Larry, know him as the Santa Clara Realtor helping hundreds of Santa Clarans buy and sell their homes! Prior to being a Realtor, Larry worked as an engineer at United Technology Center (UTC). He opened his own business as the broker and owner of Realcom Associates in 1970. To say that Larry had a successful career in real estate would be an understatement. He leaves behind a legacy in the real estate community as a founding member of the Darvon Park Homeowners Association, member and Director of the CA Associations of Realtors (CAR), and obtained a community college teaching credential in Real Estate, Banking Finance, and Management which he used to teach real estate courses at West Valley and Mission College. While all that is an achievement Larry was also awarded many honors including: Realtor of the year in 1982 by the San Jose Real Estate Board and also served as their president in 1983, California’s Distinguished Realtor of the year in 2005 by CAR, the Byron Brawley Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007 and one of the distinguished members of the year in 2016 from Santa Clara County Association of Realtors, Realtor Emeritus by the National Association of Realtors for over 40 years as a realtor, and was selected in 2015 to be included in The Heritage Registry of Who’s Who, a publication that distinguishes leading professionals throughout North America who have a recognizable degree of success in their field of endeavor and have contributed to the growth of their industry and profession.

While real estate was a passion of Larry’s, he had many others including politics. Beyond being mayor of Santa Clara, Larry ran for California Congress and State Assembly. He was a devoted member of the Republican party; serving as a delegate to President Ronald Reagan at the Republican Convention in 1980. He was truly an All-American guy!!

Larry was a son, brother, wonderful husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, cousin, beloved friend, and neighbor. Proceeded in death by parents Lawrence and Maude, brothers John and Jim, wife Camille and son Larry Lee. Larry is loved dearly by the family he leaves behind survived by sons Leighton Fargher (Holly Fargher), Lauson Fargher (Tammy Fargher), Lindel Fargher (Virginia Fargher), and daughter Laure Vierra (Fred Vierra); 10 grandchildren, Jessica Gaetani (Anthony Gaetani), Danielle Shaw (Scott Shaw), Jonathan Fargher (Jessica Fargher), Michael Fargher (Shalsea Fargher), Tiffany Decena (Josh Decena), Vanessa Czisch (Andrew Czisch), Freddie Vierra (Nicole Vierra), Virginia Fargher, Jordan Fargher and Joshua Fargher and 10 Great-Grandchildren Haley Clore, Makenzie Gaetani, Tate Shaw, Tyson Shaw, Maveric Fargher, Morgan Fargher, Cameron Decena, Andrew Czisch, Peyton Vierra and Colton Vierra.

Larry will be remembered by so many for the handwritten birthday card and notes he always sent. He spent his final years in loving care of caregivers who became like family in his home he shared with girlfriend Lois Gordon. Services to celebrate Larry’s life are as planned: Monday, June 27th visitation at 6pm and Rosary at 7pm at Saint Lawrence the Martyr Parish, 1971 St Lawrence Dr, Santa Clara, CA 95051. On Tuesday, June 28th funeral mass at 10:00 am at Mission Santa Clara, 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA 95053 with burial immediately following at Gate of Heaven Catholic Cemetery in Los Altos. A reception will follow the burial.

It’s hard to lose someone who has meant so much. Thank you for everything Dad/Papa, rest in eternal peace.

In Lieu of the flowers the family has asked that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association in Larry’s name, an organization close to his heart.