Pamela Faye Farrington
Pamela Faye Farrington, 59, died Saturday morning, August 15th, ending an eight month-long struggle against lymphoma.
Growing up in Fort Lauderdale, FL, Pam enjoyed boating on the ocean, snorkeling the coral reefs, and exploring the Everglades. She earned her undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL. Following medical school, Pam completed residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at George Washington University in Washington DC. She and her husband, Kenneth Ward, MD moved west to Salt Lake City in 1987 and together they joined the OB/GYN Faculty at the University of Utah. Pam considered her faculty position to be a “dream job”. She enjoyed the women she cared for, the students she taught, and the wonderful people she worked beside. “Doctor Pam” was a talented surgeon and beloved physician who aided the births of thousands of babies. For many years, she worked as the primary obstetrician in the University’s multidisciplinary Teen Mother and Child Program. Pam also served on important medical school committees and in a leadership role as the General Obstetrics and Gynecology Division Chief.
In 2003, Pam and her family had the good fortune to move to Hawaii for four years when Ken accepted a position at another medical school. Pam cherished this time living in a tropical paradise once again, though she and her family returned frequently to enjoy the natural wonders in and around Utah. In 2007, the family moved back to Salt Lake City in pursuit of new career opportunities. With this move, Pam’s professional focus became human genetic research. Until the time of her passing, Pam worked as part of the team at Juneau Biosciences discovering genetic causes of endometriosis and other serious diseases affecting millions of women and their families.
Away from work, Pam was also very active. She loved riding and training horses with her daughters, playing tennis with her “tennis buddies”, and participating in spinning, Pilates, and weightlifting sessions at the gym. Pam found great joy house-boating on Lake Powell with family and friends and sharing many happy times in Bridger Valley, WY where she actively worked on the conservation of riparian land along the Black’s Fork River.
Pam loved and was extremely close to her four siblings Kathy, Allen, Jo Ann and Linda who survive her. She greatly valued the many happy times with her sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, and nephews. Week-long holiday gatherings with the entire extended family became an important family tradition. Pam was an accomplished gourmet cook and baker, frequently incorporating fresh ingredients grown in her garden; she was always in her element while entertaining guests and sharing a special home-cooked meal.
Pam’s life was enriched by her husband of twenty-nine years, Ken, and by their three amazing children: Katie, Allen, and Emily. Pam was so proud of their many and varied accomplishments. She enjoyed traveling, exploring, going to shows, visiting friends and relatives, attending sporting events, and especially playing board games as a family. Pam will always live on in her family’s memories, in the lessons she taught her children, and in their good deeds and their capacity to love.
A gathering to celebrate Pam’s life will be held on August 25th from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Starks Funeral Parlor, 3651 South 900 East. Complimentary valet parking will be provided on the north side of the building.
In lieu of sending flowers, Pam asked that folks consider making a donation to the Utah Shakespeare Festival (or your favorite charity) in her memory. Pam encourages all of her colleagues and friends to attend a performance at the Utah Shakespearean Festival in Cedar City, UT. She knows the Festival would enchant and amaze all as it has her family over twenty-eight consecutive seasons. Finally, without the generosity of anonymous blood donors, Pam’s family wouldn’t have been blessed with the additional months that they enjoyed with her. If your own health allows, please consider making a blood donation.