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In memory of

Bernard Joseph Ferguson

Mystic, CT, USA

September 4, 1930 - July 7, 2018

Sep 4, 1930 - Jul 7, 2018

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Bernard Joseph Ferguson died peacefully at home on Saturday, July 7th in the comfort of his large family and seven children. He was 87.

He leaves behind his sister Lori Brennan, 17 grand children, four great-grandchildren and a fifth expected in October.

“Bernie" loved to laugh and was quick-tongued with a quip. He had a never-ending twinkle in his eye for any member of his family; a simple question about the weather or time of day would lead to an accounting of grandchildren and their countless accomplishments.

He was an active and busy volunteer in Catholic causes and served for decades as a lector, usher, and in church governance. He was a founder of Family Buying, a non-profit cooperative serving large families.

His life’s dedication was his high school sweetheart and wife of 55 years Betty Ferguson, née O'Keefe, who predeceased him in 2010. They first met when Betty was a member of a Girl Scout group led by Bernie’s mother in Westerly, Rhode Island and began dating as teens. After raising their family in Flushing, Queens, they spent two decades as “snowbirds,” wintering in Naples, Florida, and traveling through several dozen countries.

Bernie was born in Queens, and moved to Westerly two weeks before the town was hit by the 1938 hurricane. He often recounted seeing young Scouts help clear roads of fallen trees with hand-axes. Bernie’s parents were first-generation American born, and Bernie was deeply proud of his Irish heritage.

After serving in the Air Force, Bernie attended UConn on the G.I. bill, then worked his way through St. John’s law school attending night classes and spending his days as an insurance claims investigator. He began his law career in 1961 in an office over a shop in Woodside, Queens, and his early years in law were a neighborhood firm’s beat of estates, real estate contracts and occasional civil suits. He served as a president of the Queens County Bar Association and Woodside Kiwanis Club.

Persistence on a case that came across his desk took his career into the national issue of laws and regulations around licensing medical doctors. He was tireless in his pursuit of improving medical education policy, after a career that had a major impact on health care in the United States he founded a NGO registered with the United Nations to focus on global health care issues.

He is survived by his sister Lori and her husband Bill Brennan of Poland, Ohio, children B.J. and Diane Ferguson of Noank, CT, Dan and Adrianne Ferguson of Grove City, PA, Colleen Ferguson and Bob Stafford of Hull, MA, Paul and Asako Ferguson of Decatur, GA, Brian Ferguson of Mystic, CT, Kevin and Suzanne Murphy-Ferguson of Dedham, MA and Maura and Bob Quirk of East Greenwich, RI.

His 17 grandchildren and their spouses and partners are Kate and Zach Zaman of Pelham NY, Laura and Emils Duselis of Sydney, Australia, Ben and Linsey Ferguson of Torrance, California, Sarah Ferguson and Rick Belson of Philadelphia, Michael and Anna Formaini of Grove City, PA, Mary Lou, Liam and Kieran Ferguson of Decatur, GA, Amy, Kelly and Mary Ferguson and Audrey DeRobert of Boston, Nicole Quirk of San Diego and Bobby, Megan and Caroline Quirk of East Greenwich, Rhode Island.

His four great-grandchildren are Sienna Zaman of Pelham, New York; Ella and Andrejs Duselis of Sydney, Australia and Weston Ferguson of Torrance, California.

Bernie was always keen on understanding the wider world. The week before he left us, he said he would have liked to remain long enough to see the results of Mueller investigation, Pope Francis’ Vatican council planned for next year, and the impact of Brexit on a possible united Ireland. But in lieu of that, and in lieu of flowers, Bernie’s children ask for donations be sent to organizations close to his heart, St. Vincent de Paul Place in Norwich CT or the Union of Concerned Scientists.

A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. July 21st at St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic church in Mystic, CT, followed by an interment of his ashes at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Stonington, CT and a family reception at Brian Ferguson’s at 9 Park Place in Mystic, CT.

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In lieu of flowers, consider a gift to St. Vincent de Paul Place of Norwich, CT.

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Year 2016/17...
Greenlinks Community, Lely Resort, Naples FL

I was very blessed to be introduced to Bernie as a neighbor …

Year 2016/17...
Greenlinks Community, Lely Resort, Naples FL

I was very blessed to be introduced to B…

Year 2016/17...
Greenlinks Community, Lely Resort, Naples FL

I was…

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In lieu of flowers, consider a gift to St. Vincent de Paul Place of Norwich, CT.