Remembering Dr. Rawle Farley
It is with great sadness that I report Dr. Rawle Farley, a professor of economics at The State University of New York College of Brockport since 1966, has died. He was 88. He was the founder and first chairperson of the Department of Economics at SUNY Brockport, and was named Professor Emeritus in 1995. He’s the author of
a number of seminal works that helped shape the study of the economics of the developing world, including “The Economics of Latin America: Development Problems in Perspective” (Harper & Row, 1972).
Born Rawle Egbert Griffith Farley in South America in Courtland Village, Berbice, Guyana. He left Guyana when he was young to attend school in England. To pay for his schooling and fund his trip abroad, he sold the trophies he had won
as a champion hurdler. He eventually earned his Ph.D. from the University of London, and attended Oxford University.
While a student in England, during one period he couldn’t find a landlord willing to rent a room to a Caribbean scholar. He ended up sleeping in a hallway between the rooms of two white friends.
Drs. Rawle and Ena Farley raised four sons. All went to public school, and all went to Harvard or Harvard Law School or both. A fact they were proud of and rightfully so. They both believed education was the way for a better future for black people. And they were right. Dr. Farley was a family friend. He was a family friend of my mom's and eventually became of friend of mine when I worked at the College. I learned so much from him and will miss him dearly.
I wonder if Brockport realizes what they've lost with his recent passing. I know his family, friends, and co-workers do. My heart-felt sympathies go out to his family.
Posted By: Marsha Jones
Thursday, November 11th 2010 at 8:25PM
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