Joseph Allen Faw

JOSEPH ALLEN FAW, son of two beautiful, nurturing parents, the late William L. Faw, Sr. and Catherine E. Faw (nee Carberry), entered this earthly life on March 10, 1936, in Baltimore, Maryland. He was baptized a few days after birth because the Catholic Church teaches that baptism is necessary for salvation. Life was good, and the Lord Jesus Christ saw fit to welcome him home on December 21, 2022, for it was his right to be with the Lord as one of his servants. Joe received his early education at St. Peter’s Claver Parochial School, where he served as an altar boy and began his formal religious education in the Christian faith. After graduating from Frederick Douglas High School, Baltimore, Maryland, Joe continued his education at Morgan State College, now Morgan State University, earning a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in Administration/Supervision in Elementary Education. He was the proud recipient of the Haywood Harrison Memorial Scholarship Excellence Award. He also enrolled in the doctoral program in urban education at Morgan State University. Between Joe’s educational pursuits, he served in the United States Armed Services with a tour of duty in the European theater, Germany. He took this opportunity to explore many European countries, such as Austria, Denmark, France, and Switzerland. Joe was honorably discharged in 1961. After leaving the service, Joe pursued gainful employment but met many obstacles due to racial discrimination in the Baltimore workforce. However, he persevered, landing a job at the University of Maryland School of Hygiene and later employment at the Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Mental Health. While working at Johns Hopkins, Joe went to Peru, South America, as a research assistant studying infectious diseases. In 1968, Joe married Barbara Ann Lindsay, a Virginia girl, living and attending college in Baltimore. Barbara was his constant companion and faithful confidant. This blissful union continued until the day of his death. Joe was deeply devoted to education. He taught in the parochial school system of the Archdiocese of Baltimore and served as Principal of St. Ambrose Catholic School, Park Heights campus. At that time, St. Ambrose was one of the largest Catholic schools in the inner-city urban vicariate. Joe was the first black Lay Principal in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. He also taught in Baltimore County Public Schools and became the Assistant Principal of McCormick Elementary School in Northeast Baltimore County. Furthermore, he taught a Pre-100 Orientation Course at the Community College of Baltimore. Joe has served on many boards, such as the Archdiocese Board for Urban Schools, the St. Bernardine’s Elementary School Board, the Medical Records Board at the Community College of Baltimore, and the Northwest Urban Cluster Board.

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Joseph Allen Faw

March 10, 1936 - December 21, 2022