David Vince Farnham

David was born on November 17, 1928 at Woodstock, New Brunswick, Canada to a devout Christian farming couple, George and Myrtle, in a busy household of ten brothers and sisters.

He loved telling stories and many of his childhood memories were repeated often through the years.

David came to the States at age nineteen and was sponsored by his uncle Guy, who secured him employment in machine industries in the Worcester area. It was there that he met Norma Brown. They were married in 1950 and celebrated fifty years until her death in 2001.

David started coming to the Cape on weekends to fish in the 1960’s and “he was hooked.” It was soon after that he built his home in Chatham and became a permanent resident. He, and son Mark, were commercial fishermen together for thirty-five years aboard four boats, aptly named Slow Poke and Honi-Do I, II, and III. His first line of conversation with anyone he met was, “I loved fishing. It was not work to me!”

He was hard -working, industrious, a great boatsman, a fun storyteller, and always ready to lend a helping hand to a neighbor. Upon retiring from fishing, he turned to shellfishing off Monomoy. In recent years, you might find his white Ford truck parked on Bridge Street and look for him quahogging in Stage Harbor. This past summer, his son Paul and he were often seen together in full waders and sporting long rakes for a day of “scratching.”

David was a great role model to his immediate family, Mark and Sue, and Paul and Lisa. He was adored as “Gramps” by his grandchildren Noah, Hannah, Jerry, Micah, Dean, Erin, and Sarah. For the last twenty years, he enjoyed a loving friendship with his biggest fan, his gal friend, June.

The many stories he shared with others, here and in Canada, will be preserved and passed on to great grandchildren and nieces and nephews in the retelling at family gatherings. He will be forever in our hearts.

Those wishing to make a donation in David’s memory may do so to Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance, Chatham Fire and Rescue Department, or South Chatham Community Church.

A private memorial service is planned for December 13 at South Chatham Community Church.

For online condolences, please visit www.nickersonfunerals.com.