| Location | Naples, Fl |
| Age | 66 years |
| Date of Birth | 22/05/1945 |
| Date of Death | 26/08/2011 |
| Visitors | 2,781 since 27/08/2011 |
| Creator |
This is a site created so friends and family members can share their thoughts and memories of Ferd. It will also provide information and updates about his memorial service, which will be on October 8th at 11:00 AM at the Middlebury Congregational Church in Middlebury, CT.
As you all probably know, Ferd had been in the hospital since early August. On the morning of August 26th, things took a bad turn. He was not accepting the breaths provided by the ventilator. Despite attempting to max the settings, his blood was not receiving the necessary oxygen to sustain life, affecting his acid balance. The nurse commented that he must have a very strong heart to have lasted this long. If she only knew. His blood pressure dipped dramatically as his heart did eventually begin to give way. At noon, with nurses and Andy, his oldest son, by his side holding his forearm, we lost him.
The family deeply appreciates all of your prayers and well wishes. We would also like to thank the many of you who have passed on stories and memories these last few weeks. Ferd was an extraordinary person who truly left his mark on all those who knew him. The hope is that this site will serve as an outlet for those sentiments and stand as a tribute to a great guy and unbelievable father.
From a former employee
I worked for Ferd at Business Digest of Greater Waterbury. Just decided to look him up to see what he's up to now and was sad to hear of his death last year. I remember so well his coffee addiction and his other addiction - to tennis. I liked him very much and agree that he's gone much too soon.
I was so shocked and saddened to read of Ferd's untimely passing in the most recent issue of the Rollins Magazine.
Ferd was such a nice person and always fun to be around. His skill on the tennis court was legendary, and off the court, his personality and great smile would always light up a room.
He and I had a great conversation some years ago, and he was clearly so very proud of his family.
To you all, I belatedly extend my heartfelt sympathy and my deepest condolences.
Dale Price Miller
Ferd's Family,
I lost touch with Ferd after Rollins but thought of him many times. He was truly a gentleman. We had much fun on and off the court over a couple years.
Reading the tributes reminds me of that laugh. It was contagious!
I am sorry for your loss but you have a tremendous legacy verified by the many tributes here.
God Bless You.
From Alan Marsh (Estero, FL)
A Tennis Buddy
I only knew Ferd in his last 2-3 years but he had become a good friend and a tennis buddy extraordinaire. We would mostly see each other on the tennis court 2 or 3 times a week - usually on opposite sides of the net. He was frustrating to play because of his soft deadly accuracy and I often wondered what his game used to be like when he had the energy, strength, and good health to play a younger man's game. It comes as no surprise that he was part of a national championship team in college.
Now Ferd is not a familiar name...at least not in the mid-west where I grew up nor is it here in SW Florida. Tired of the queries about his "strange" name, I heard him tell one tennis player that he actually preferred "Buck". His good-natured dry sense of humor in addition to the tennis camaraderie will be missed.
After reading his obituary it confirmed my suspicion that he was more concerned about helping people than personal monetary rewards. He has obviously touched many lives and made a difference. Here's to a good guy who should have been with us a lot longer but I'm so glad to have had him become a part of my life as a good friend for this short period of time.
Alan
A Nicer Man Than I'll Ever Be...
I first met Ferd when we were Ball Boys at Forrest Hills in 1963. We met again when I went to Rollins in 1965 and we graduated with MBA's together in 1970. Ferd was the kind of man every man should aspire to be. Kind, gentle and warm. Never met a person he didn't like and always made everyone feel comfortable. He was a true leader as demonstrated by the work he did wiht the Rollins alumni and especialy the tennis team. He was the one who talked me into coming to what turned out to be my first and his last Rollins reunion and under the circumstances, had I not gone and had the chance to introduce my wife Karen to Ferd, I never would have forgiven myself. I was honored to know Ferd and the world is a lesser place with him gone. I will miss him terribly and epecially that smile and laugh. Cliff Montgomery
It was a pleasure to have known Ferd and work with him. He was a great man, always nice and fun. It's so nice to read his life story and see the wonderful comments from his family and friends. May you find comfort in these great memories.
Marta - coworker at Harry Chapin Food Bank
From a former Rollins teammate
Andy,
I meant to write a tribute sooner but having just sent you an email regarding my fondness for your father, i thought i would include here the comments i shared with you.
One of the great things about your father, though, is he immediately jumped into action to make things right. He never seemed to get mad (as I do) but instead, he always maintained a forgiving and sportsmanlike way of kicking someone in the butt when they deserved it. It saddens me that he might not have seen the mailer postcard with you and Brandon featured. No doubt it would have calmed him down but then again, what fun would that have been? I think he and I got on so well because we loved stirring things up....
He was a gentleman, friend, and loving family man. Though i may have met you only once, he spoke of you and your family so much to me that i felt like i grew up with all of you. He was kind to all who knew him and it comforts me knowing that you were with him at the very end.
I miss him already.
My sincerest condolences to you and your family.
Blair Neller
Ferd,
We are thinking of you a lot and know how much you are already missed. When we heard of you getting sick it just broke our hearts since you are so young. Just know that Sarah is such an amazing mother, but you knew that already we didn't need to tell you :) One thing I really remember about you is your laugh and how it would light up a room.Laughing is something we all need to do much more of in life. Missing you Ferd...
Love Suzanne and Peter Catucci
From Ferd's Coach (not tennis)
I had the honor to know Ferd for the past 10 years or so, but we only met face/face once in CT, where I reside. I was his career coach. He would have called me that, and his life coach, and occasionally, when he was being funny, his "shrink"...although, I did not go there. We would talk over the phone for our coaching sessions about 2 times a month. You might guess, the athlete that Ferd was, he believed in the power of coaching when it came to strategizing about your career or life, and that is the type of coach I was with Ferd. But over 10 years, aside from partnering with him on his life transitions and career moves, or business discussions and actions, I got to know more than Ferd's resume. Here's just a few things I came to know.
He was an incredibly passionate and devoted dad to his kids, but this is obvious to all reading this, and evidenced by all his tributes.
He always wanted to lend advice (to any of his children who would listen), and would go to the ends of the earth and back trying to help them find their way, or be well. Ferd had so many longstanding friendships, enduring years and years of time. All a testimony to his character.
He was a smart, savvy marketing, development and sales professional. And although he may have been dealing with transitions in career, and physical moves, through it all he personified the term tenacity. He relocated himself to Naples and started a new life, and in his early 60's he pushed really hard to reinvent his career toward fundraising and development on a grander scale. He volunteered his way into job interviews at the hospital, establishing credibility and respect immediately from professional peers and competing with people with greater experience than he, and managed to be a finalist for a Director job at the hospital which was no small feat. His skills and creativity on the job were highly appreciated and respected. He landed a job with Chapin Food Bank and immediately added huge value. He brought them new programs and strategies that brought them success.
It's hard to mention Ferd's career pursuits without mentioning Rollins. They have been publicizing a Development Director on and off all these years. Just enough to drive Ferd a little batty, as THIS was his ideal job. Those Rollins executives probably never met a more tenacious guy than Ferd. Even though they may have him on the stalker list, they would have never found a more passionate development director if they tried. (And they keep trying, because no one they hire seems to work out for long.)
I have to mention that as tough and tenacious a spirit that Ferd had, he had much personal knowledge and is a seeker of life meaning. Those who knew him well probably saw that in him. He had used his life’s twists and turns to learn about himself and to be an insightful person. For this and so much more, he is so deeply cared about by all who know him, and certainly I am on that list. Above and beyond anything that Ferd cared about, it was relationships. That was a theme, whether work or personal, Ferd was a connector, and most of all wanted to connect with people, bring them lightness and love, and wanted the people he cared about most, to be happy and successful in life.
My prayers and warmest wishes for healing go out to his family, and dear friends. Despite the length of this tribute, there are no words for the ways in which I am sure he will be missed.
Jill Berquist
My Best friend
Brother Ferd,
It has been a week since you have left us. I miss the telephone calls that we shared every couple of days. I miss the laughs, but I will never forget the almost 65 years we spent together as my Big brother and my very dearest and best friend. You are missed and in my heart forever.
Before you left us, you could have allowed me to beat you at least one time in singles. I guess I am going to have to wait for that time to come.
Peace be with you Brother.
Bro Bill
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