09/09/2026
If you’ve visited our office, you may recognize Dr. Richard E. Farmer from our gallery of core values where he is featured as a community champion for his dedication to promoting health, wellness, and his unwavering commitment to helping others.
We are deeply saddened by Richard’s recent passing and want to honor the profound impact he had as a cherished community partner, mentor, and friend of No Wrong Door.
Dr. Farmer was an irreplaceable resource to our Frontlines initiative. He generously shared his expertise, lived experience, wisdom, and compassion, helping us strengthen our work and deepen our understanding of the importance of mental health, especially for first responders, their families and the communities they serve.
A lifelong educator and learner, Richard led a distinguished career in higher education, serving as a faculty member, dean, and president at institutions across New England and beyond. He was also a prolific author, publishing nine books and numerous research articles and presentations, with much of his work focused on subjects that reflected his deep commitment to helping others, including workplace stress and the cancer journey.
But Richard’s greatest impact cannot be measured by degrees, titles, or publications. It was felt in the way he showed up for others with kindness, humility, humor, accountability, and genuine compassion. And he reminded us, through both his words and his actions, that doing good often begins simply with caring for one another.
We are grateful for the time we had with Dr. Farmer, for everything he taught us, and for the generosity with which he shared his gifts. His influence will continue through the people he inspired and the work he helped make possible.
Our deepest condolences go to Richard’s family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing him. May his memory, the compassion, and kindness he modeled continue to guide us.
