Former Fall River Police Commissioner, boxer, founder of PAL, Nero Farias passes away

Fall River – Nero Farias, age 92, passed away suddenly at Charlton Memorial Hospital on Saturday, December 24, 2022. Born in Fall River, he was the son of the late Agostinho and Marianna (Pimental) Farias. He was the loving husband of Grace (Moniz) Farias for 38 years.

Nero was raised in Fall River, the youngest of 22 children, and graduated from Durfee High School. As a child, he developed a love of boxing and trained under his brother, John, and fought alongside his brother, Tony. As a boxer, he fought under the name “Nero Ferry” and became a Golden Gloves Champion before turning professional and retiring with a record of 26 wins and 3 losses, 15 by knock out. He prided himself on never being knocked out himself. He joined the Fall River Police Department and was a police officer for 33 years, retiring in 1990. During this time, he worked as a detective, in the Juvenile Bureau, as a Juvenile Court Liaison, Safety Officer, and Auxiliary Police Liaison. Following his retirement, he continued serving the City of Fall River as a Police Commissioner and a board member of the Fall River Municipal Credit Union for many years. Nero was proud to have founded the Fall River Police Athletic League in 1962, providing opportunities for local youth to be involved in the drum and bugle corps, weekly dances, Nero’s Fiddle Coffee House, boxing, floor hockey, and many other programs. Nero always believed in the good in people, always giving those he encountered a fair chance. He would encourage young people he met while working in the Juvenile Bureau to join the Police Athletic League and get involved in the community in a positive way. Many remember the kindnesses Nero showed them; even many years later, people stopped him to say “thank you” for impacting their lives in positive ways. Nero could not go anywhere, even overseas, without bumping into one of his “pals”. He was a wonderful son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

Besides his wife Grace, he is survived by his children, Nicholas Nero Farias and soon-to-be daughter-in-law Sarah Serio of Hoboken, N.J. and Kimberly Sefrino and son-in-law Marc of Assonet, MA. He also leaves his granddaughters; Brittney, Stephanie, and Victoria Sefrino, three great-grandchildren, two siblings, George Farias and Marianna Luz, as well as many nieces and nephews.

A visitation for Nero will be held on Thursday, December 29 from 8:30-9:30 AM in the Manuel Rogers Funeral Home, 1521 N. Main St., Fall River. A funeral mass will follow in St. Joseph’s Church, Fall River at 10:00 A.M. Interment in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Fall River. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Greater Fall River RE-CREATION, 45 Rock St., Fall River, MA 02720. To share a memory or offer a condolence, visit www.rogersfuneral.com