Robert Farrell Jr. is Vice President and Technical Director at Hubbard-Hall in Waterbury, Connecticut, a position he will retire from in July after 28 years with the company.
Farrell spent one year at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency after graduating from Long Island University in 1976, where he dreamed of being a marine biologist. He then went to work for Mitchell Bradford chemicals before it was acquired by Hubbard-Hall in 1991. Farrell and his wife are retiring to their home in Vermont.
How did you get your start in the finishing industry?
After one year at the U.S. EPA, I went to work at Mitchell Bradford in 1977.
What do enjoy best about the industry?
Problem solving, the cast of characters I’ve met through the years, product development, and the travel.
Is your glass half full or half empty?
Half full.
What three items would you take with you on a deserted island?
Fishing gear, a flint, and an umbrella.
What was your favorite subject in school?
Science.
What's the most unusual thing you've ever eaten?
It was in Taiwan, and I did not ask! I think it was a fish of some kind.
Do you collect anything?
Bottle openers.
Farrell and his wife at their Vermont home.Are you an introvert or an extrovert?
Introvert.
Which of the five senses would you say is your strongest?
Smell.
Are you related or distantly related to anyone famous?
No.
What do you do to keep fit?
Bicycle, free weights, and pushups.
Does your family have a “motto” – spoken or unspoken?
Be an optimist.
If you were ruler of your own country what would be the first law you would introduce?
No taxes on people over 65.
What three things do you think of the most each day?
Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
Farrell in 1976.If you had a warning label, what would yours say?
Approach with caution.
What song would you say best sums you up?
Desperado.
What celebrity would you like to meet for a cup of coffee?
Nikki Haley.
What's the most interesting thing you can see out of your office or kitchen window?
Lake Champlain.
On a scale of 1-10, how funny would you say you are?
9.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Happy, healthy, and enjoying retirement in Vermont.
What was your first job?
Dish washer.
How many languages do you speak?
One, and not well!
Who is the most intelligent person you know?
My daughter.
If you had to describe yourself as an animal, which one would it be?
Bobcat.
What is one thing you will never do again?
Swim far from shore.
Who knows you the best?
My wife.
