Ronald J Farano
August 12, 1931 – May 20, 2010
Cav. Ronald Joseph Farano Q.C. passed away peacefully and courageously on May 20, 2010, the 50th anniversary of his wedding to Joan (nee Engholm). He is survived by his wife Joan, his three children: Greg, Lisa and Chris (married to Shelley Brown), and his grandchildren: Matthew, James, Patrick, Audrey Rose, Russell, Theo and Tilly.
Ron was the son and third child of Vincent and Rose (nee Lomoro) Farano, who were born in Modugno, Italy, and who immigrated to Canada in their youth. Ron’s two older sisters, Josephine (Grittani) and the late Laura (Oakie), were diligent caregivers to him as a child as the family struggled with many challenges, including cultural and racial discrimination, which was unfortunately typical of the time.
After receiving a Commerce and Finance degree from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Laws from Osgoode Hall Law School, Ron realized a boyhood dream when he was called to the Ontario bar in 1957. Sam Sorbara was kind enough to take Ron on as a fledgling lawyer after his call. In the early 1960s Ron partnered with Wolfe Goodman at Goodman, Cohen, Cooper & Farano. He later that decade practiced as a tax partner at Davies, Ward & Beck.
In 1964 and 1965, Ron travelled back and forth to Ottawa to participate in the Royal Commission on Taxation under Kenneth Carter. Ron helped to draft the Commission’s report on tax reform, released in 1966, which led to a White Paper in 1969, and preceded a significant overhaul to Canada’s federal taxation system in the early 1970s. Ron was awarded the title of Queen' s Counsel for his work on this important Commission.
In 1973, Ron formed his own law firm, Farano Green, with fellow tax lawyer Warren Green. Ron and Warren would remain partners and good friends for the rest of Ron's life – without a written partnership agreement between them. Farano Green grew to 16 lawyers, and merged after 26 years in 1999 with Gardiner Roberts. Ron remained a senior tax partner at Gardiner Roberts until his death.
During his long career, Ron authored 7 books on corporate and tax matters, most recently Farano's Tax Cases. He also published a tax periodical, Tax and Fiscal Commentary, a sometime political commentary where Ron frequently expressed his views on tax policy and (sometimes profligate) public spending policy. In 1985, Ron sat on the Nielsen Task Force on Program Review, created by the then Conservative Government and tasked with making recommendations on how to reduce the cost of government. Ron later became a director of Canadair. He kept a model Canadair jet on his desk.
Ron was a founding member of the Italian Chamber of Commerce of Ontario (as it is now known) in the 1960s, and remained its Chairman and a committed supporter until his death. In September 2006, Ron was honoured by the Government of Italy as a Knight of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy. He proudly carried the title of Cavaliere. Ron was also a founding member and a director of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. Ron was especially proud of the CFIB’s “Little Red Hen” campaign to reduce government taxation. Ron was until his death consigliere to the Accademia Italiana della Cuccina, Toronto Delegation.
Ron was an avid skier; he and Joan joined Alpine Ski Club in 1966. He was an Honourary Life Member of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club and he was a Member of the Georgian Bay Club.
Ron was a warm, thoughtful man, with a voice and a laugh that carried through many a wall and ceiling. Known for his colourful dress, he lived life large. He was devoted to his wife, his children, and his grandchildren. He loved food, music, art and travel. And he loved the people around him.
To those who were fortunate to know him, he was simply a good man. We will all miss him.
A simple committal ceremony prior to cremation was held on May 23 for the immediate family. There will be an informal celebration of Ron’s life in the afternoon of Thursday, June 10, 2010. All of Ron’s family and friends are welcome. Please e-mail faranofamily@gmail.com and let the family know if you would like to attend this celebration, and how many you wish to bring with you. Also, you are invited to post any thoughts (personal or political) about Ron at http://ronfarano.blogspot.com/
The family would like to thank Dr. John Blondal and all of the staff St. Joseph’s Health Centre for their wonderful care of Ron. Instead of flowers, the family would be honoured if you sent donations to St. Joseph’s Health Centre, the Smoking and Health Action Foundation, or The Mission to Seafarers (Pier 51, Unwin Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5A 1A1, Attention: The Rev. David Mulholland).
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