Farnsworth III, Clinton E.

1938-2023

Clinton E. Farnsworth III, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend to many, passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of December 8, 2023 at the age of 85. He leaves behind his loving wife of sixty-one years, Patty, his three children Clinton E. “Buddy” (Ann Marie) Farnsworth IV, Cheryl (Stephen) Miller, Barbara (Andrew) Reese, and six grandchildren: Zach, Greg, Kelly, Joe, Abby and Will; his younger brother John (Jeanne) Farnsworth, several cousins, nieces and nephews. Clint is predeceased by his parents Clinton E. and Frances J. Farnsworth II and his infant brother James.

Clint, fondly called “Red” by many in his younger years due to his carrot-top red hair that he inherited from his mother, was happiest surrounded by his family and friends at the only place he really cared to be: Cranberry Lake, New York. Clint was born on May 16, 1938 in Gouverneur, NY and spent the first ten years of his life in nearby Wanakena, where his dad was on staff at The Ranger School. He was born with the love of the Adirondack Park in his blood which he has passed on to his children and grandchildren.

Clint married the love of his life, Patricia Lee Meyer, on March 24, 1962, and they began their marriage living in student housing on the Syracuse University campus where he earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering. He was hired by Xerox Corporation in 1967 and worked tirelessly for the next thirty years building a successful career. When he retired from Xerox in 1997, at age fifty nine with over thirty years of service, he retired as a Chief Engineer. He was incredibly proud of his time and accomplishments at Xerox.

While Clint worked at Xerox, he and Patty made Fairport, NY their home. They loved Fairport and their cherished neighborhood friends on Brentwood Lane. Clint was known as someone who loved being with his friends. He hosted an annual corn roast for the neighborhood. When the corn in his vegetable garden was ripe for the picking, all he had to do was yell, “Corn’s up!” throughout the neighborhood, and like magic, they all came running. He rarely wore shoes, always wore shorts, and always, without fail, had his alma mater, Syracuse University, placed proudly on his head.

In 2000, Clint and Patty sold their home of thirty two years on Brentwood Lane and made Cranberry Lake their year-round home; however, it didn’t take long for them to decide they’d had enough of the cold and snow and would prefer to spend their winters in sunny Florida. They bought property in Mulberry, Florida and officially became snowbirds. In Mulberry, Clint and Patty enjoyed their new friends and neighbors and resumed their favorite pastimes- golf outings, happy hours, superbowl parties, and entertaining with friends.

Clint had many hobbies throughout his life. In his younger years, he enjoyed rebuilding old cars, camping and fishing at Cranberry Lake, woodworking and carpentry, bowling, and downhill skiing. In his later years, golfing, reading, and boating on Cranberry Lake became his favorite pastimes. He also developed a love for cruising the Caribbean every February or March with Patty, and he especially enjoyed the endless food options on the ships. Over the course of his lifetime, several loves remained constant: his love of cooking and grilling, his love for the Syracuse Orangemen, his love for his family, and his love of Cranberry Lake.

With his accomplished professional career at Xerox behind him, Clint devoted his time to what he loved most: the Cranberry Lake community. Essentially, he began a second career as a community leader on Cranberry Lake. He believed “things needed to get done.” He joined the Cranberry Lake Boat Club in 1983 and served as the Commodore for nine years. He was instrumental in decades of leadership for the Boat Club and for many community projects. His most recent and proudest achievement was his involvement and leadership in the project which involved renovating the beautiful, old church which sits on the shore of Cranberry Lake, now called the Cranberry Lake North Shore Hub. He believed his passion for community service was inherited from his mother, whom he often referred to as “a professional volunteer.”

Residents of Cranberry Lake will remember his daily 4:00 p.m. cocktail cruise along the shore of the lake with Patty and their pup by his side, his white captain’s cap on his head, and his friendly wave with his arm held high. He had a love for old boats and captained many over his years on the lake; Clint captained his last boat ride on his beloved lake this past July, 2023, surrounded by his family, and it will forever be engraved within their hearts.

Donations in Clint’s memory may be made to the following:

The Cranberry Lake North Shore Hub, P.O. Box 614, Cranberry Lake, NY 12927.

The Wilderness Healthcare Foundation, 1014 Oswegatchie Trail Road, Star Lake, NY 13690.

Calling Hours will be held on Monday, December 18, 2023, 4:00-6:00 p.m. at the Richard H. Keenan Funeral Home (Egypt Location) 7501 Pittsford Palmyra Road, Fairport, NY 14450.