Terry Farley, Icon Of War On Drugs In Ocean County And Beyond, Dies At 72

Terrence P. Farley, the former first assistant Ocean County prosecutor who spent much of his life working in the fight against drugs and substance abuse, died Saturday at his home in Seaside Park surrounded by family, according to his obituary. He was 72.

Farley, whose obituary was published on the Asbury Park Press website, became a partner in the law firm of Novins, Novins, Grossman and Farley in 1969, but was appointed to the post of First Assistant Prosecutor for Ocean County in 1987 under James Holzapfel. He held that post until 1992, when he became the director of the National Drug Prosecution Center in Alexandria, Va. In 1994 he was appointed director of the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice under Gov. Christine Todd Whitman.

Farley returned to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office in 1997 and was the director of the Ocean County Narcotics Strike Force from where he retired in 2010.

After his retirement from law enforcement, Farley remained involved in the effort to fight drug use, including serving on the DART Coalition of Ocean County, where he was honored in 2013 for his service to the community, and on the board of directors of Drug Watch International.

With the DART Coalition, Farley chaired the Prescription Misuse Workgroup. He was a renowned speaker on issues relating to substance abuse prevention, a member of the county’s Local Advisory Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, and a Student Assistance Counselor and consultant to the Ocean County Prosecutor on substance abuse-related issues.

“There’s probably nobody who’s been a better symbol both in Ocean County and the state of New Jersey, as well as throughout the nation,” of the fight against drugs than Farley, Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph Coronato said in 2014.

Coronato, speaking at an event where the DART Coalition was honoring Farley for his service by renaming an award the “Terrence P. Farley Community Partner of the Year” award, said Farley was unique and became an icon among those fighting the problem of substance abuse. Farley was honored by numerous organizations over the years for his efforts, including the Toms River Regional School District, which in 2014 honored him and highlighted a program he started that brought parents and teens together as kids made the transition from middle school to high school.

“You may never be able to point to a specific person and say you saved their life,” Coronato said to Farley at the event, “but you should know you have saved lives. Very few of us can really say that.”

Farley, who attended Parsons College, Ursinus and received his juris doctorate from Rutgers School of Law, also was also a beloved friend, father, and grandfather. He was born in Jersey City and raised his family in Toms River before moving to Seaside Park.

He was predeceased by his parents, Terrence J. and Jacqueline Farley, and his sister, Rosemary Janvier. He is survived by his children, Rob Farley and his wife Barbara of Bayville, and Karin Killian of Seaside Park and her husband Dr. Frank Killian; his former wife, Marilyn Farley of Toms River; his grandchildren Lauren, Kyra, Kate, TJ, Jackson and Megan, and his longtime companion Debbie Chapter.

Timothey E. Ryan Home For Funerals is in charge of services. Visitation will be Wednesday, Nov. 4, and Thursday, Nov. 5, from 4-8 p.m. at the funeral home, 145 St. Catherine Boulevard, Toms River. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Friday, Nov. 6, at 10 a.m. at St. Catharine of Siena Roman Catholic Church in Seaside Park. Committal will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the 200 Club, P.O. Box 1749, Point Pleasant, NJ 08742. Condolences may be sent by visiting www.ryanfuneralhome.com.