Local Veteran Donates Art to Village

By Fran Rotondo, Farmingdale Women's Club

Sometimes art is more than an artistic expression. For Bob Westfall it is therapeutic.

Westfall served two tours of duty with the Army unit of the 1st Cavalry. In 1968 he fought in Vietnam and on his second tour was wounded in the Ashau Valley located south of Khe Sanh.

While recovering from his wounds, Westfall found art was very therapeutic. He began painting in 1996 and found that while painting he was able to relax and focus on his canvas. Remembering his years at war, Westfall once painted a picture depicting a young soldier sitting quietly gazing pensively at a helicopter. His depth of expression, attention to detail, passion and warmth are conveyed and easily recognized in his artwork.

Westfall and his wife, Diane, live in Farmingdale and are active members of the community and he belongs to the Third Order Franciscans of the Catholic Church.

He has studied art for 15 years and has been showing his artwork for ten years. In 2009, his painting received Honorable Mention at “Art in the Park.”

During the last four years, fellow Farmingdale resident and Main Street art galley owner , has been his art teacher. Westfall has also helped organize an art group at Our Lady of Consolation Nursing Home in West Islip.

Westfall said that he was delighted when asked to donate one of his original paintings to the Women’s Club of Farmingdale when he heard that the proceeds raised at the annual “Art in the Park” event would be used to sponsor art scholarships. The funds from the raffle tickets being sold will be awarded to seniors pursuing the study of art after graduation.

"I hopt to bring an awareness of art to our community," he said.

The painting which Westfall has donated to this year’s art event reminds him of a Gristmill he saw in Gardiner, N.Y.

The Women’s Club of Farmingdale would like to thank Bob Westfall for his service to our country as a Veteran of the Vietnam War and for his generosity in donating his painting for this year’s art show.

Westfall's framed painting will be on display at this year’s “Art in the Park” event on Saturday, Sept. 24, (rain date Sept. 25) on the Village Green. The drawing for the winner of Westfall’s painting will take place on that day. The community is invited to come and stroll through the Village Green and enjoy the artwork on display as well as the live music that will be performed.

This event is supported by Mayor “Butch” Starkie and Village Trustees as well as the Chamber of Commerce and many local merchants.

If you would like to purchase raffle tickets at this time, please call (516) 249-7013 or (516) 473-3870.