Tributes paid to family man who died in Watford last weekend

The family of Anthony Michael John Farinaro have paid tribute to a much-loved son, brother, grandson and uncle, who was ‘always helping people who needed it’. Anthony, known as Ant to his family, tragically died after being involved in a collision with a car in St Albans Road, Watford, at 10.25pm on Saturday, October 30. He leaves his mum Ruth, step-dad John, granddad John, siblings Rachel, Matthew, Faye and Catherine, along with nine nieces and nephews: Frankie, nine; Gracie, eight; Freddie, seven; Elly, six; twins George and Ronnie, five; Olivia, five; Elsie, four and one-year-old Annie. The 30-year-old was born in Maidstone, Kent, on June 4, 1986, before his family moved to Dartford in Kent where he attended Westgate Primary School. The family later settled in Watford, where Anthony attended the Francis Combe Academy in Garston. He studied maths and chemistry at A Level before going on to get a degree in Mathematics from the London Metropolitan University. After graduating he worked behind the bar at The Swan in Abbots Langley before getting a job as an electrical engineer at TF Tull in Caxton Way, Watford. His mum Ruth says Anthony, who lived in Leaford Crescent, was ‘cheeky, positive and very reliable’. “If he promised to do something, he would do it. He was always helping people who needed it. “He took time off work to take a friend to her hospital appointments because that was the sort of person he was,” she said. Anthony was very well-read and Ruth says the living room of his flat was full of books which he ‘devoured’. A dedicated family man, Anthony enjoyed dinner with Ruth and John every Friday night ‘like clockwork’, often cooking for them at his flat. Ruth says her son had a ‘special bond’ with his granddad John, 90, who used to take him on adventures to museums and other places of interest when he was younger. Anthony was a very proud uncle and loved spending time with his nieces and nephews, often playing rugby or football in the garden or constructing things out of Lego. Ruth, who works as a teacher, said: “The children say they are going to miss their ‘aeroplanes’, because Anthony would lift them up in the air so they could fly.” Anthony enjoyed several hobbies including bowling, watching films, playing board games and writing short stories and poetry. He was a familiar face in The Flag, next to Watford Junction station, and enjoyed pub quizzes – often organising them too. Step-dad John said: “Anthony had a very inquisitive mind and wanted to know everything about everything. He was always asking questions.” Anthony’s funeral is at West Herts Crematorium in Garston at 12 noon on Thursday, November 17. This will be followed by a wake at The Flag on Station Road, Watford.All are welcome and Anthony’s family are encouraging those who attend to wear bright colours. They are asking that instead of flowers, people donate what they can to Anthony’s four chosen charities: Shelter, the British Heart Foundation, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and the Royal National Institute of Blind People. There will be a chance to donate after the service.