Bow, NH — Warren E. Fargo died at home in Bow, NH on July 7, – the same date that 60 years prior, he married Peg, the tall girl with a blond ponytail he met in math class at SUNY Cortland.
Born in Verona, New York on July 14, 1936, Warren was the youngest child of Elmer and Estelle (Travis) Fargo. His early adventures with his brother and sister, Bob and Louise, were among his fondest memories. At one time all three attended a one-room school together where each student (there were 12) had an assigned task to keep the school running smoothly. Warren’s job, at 7 years old, was to ring the school bell each morning, the task he considered to be the most important one of all and may have instilled his trait of always arriving early for school.
After graduating from Deposit NY Central School, Warren enlisted in the US Navy and became a hospital corpsman. He was stationed in Camp Pendleton, California as well as a 6 month assignment at sea aboard the USS Salisbury. That tour sailed to the Far East and included docking time in Hawaii, Okinawa, Formosa and Japan. Some of our family’s favorite stories were from Warren’s exploits in the Navy.
In 1958, he returned from the Navy and earned his BS Degree, Masters and Advanced Administration Certifications from SUNY Cortland, SUNY Oswego, Syracuse University, NYU, Colgate and Cornell. His career in education spanned 37 years and included teaching high school biology, high school guidance director, principal of junior high, high school and superintendent in various schools in New York State including Susquehanna Valley, Greene, West Genesee, Peekskill, Gates-Chili, Pawling and Watertown. Warren had a strong work ethic that he carried with him throughout his personal life. All his life he did things his own way. Some might say he was stubborn, others might agree. His stubbornness, also known as determination, led him to fiercely stand up for what he knew to be right. His honesty, integrity, perseverance and dedication to keeping the provision of the best educational opportunities for each child as his focus, made him an extraordinary leader.
Continuing his commitment to education, upon retirement, he served on the Bow School Board of Education from 2004-2010.
Becoming a father to Jane, Michael and Katie shaped his life as he in turn shaped theirs. He was a role model and a mentor to each of them, guiding them in their individual path with a supportive and loving hand. The addition of a daughter-in-law, Judy Van Houten, and a son-in-law, John Piester, along with grandchildren, Ethan Michael Fargo (Jane), Willem and Alison Fargo (Michael and Judy), Adam, Michael and Linnea Piester (John and Katie) filled his heart with joy and fulfilled his life beyond expectation. When our family’s beloved Ethan Michael died at age 19 in 2017, Warren’s grief was immeasurable.
Warren’s favorite time of year was summer when the whole family would gather at Lake Sunapee and spend the week together. Watching the kids swim, tube, sail or fish, playing endless games of pitch, hearts, dealing the cards for Catan or hearing the clink of the poker chips filled those lazy summer days and made memories that will last forever.
As per Warren’s request, there will be no calling hours – our family will encircle him with love at a private burial service. To honor Warren, in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Friendly Kitchen, 2 South Commercial Street, Concord, NH 03301.
