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John Mitchell posted a condolence
ONE: After being told I had to switch high schools mid senior year from Bernards to Ridge, he fought very hard to help try and keep me in Bernards but unfortunately we didn't win that fight, so I was unable to finish my senior year with him as my teacher and ice hockey coach.
TWO: I had friends and hockey teammates over for my 17th birthday. I hear a knock at the door, to find Mr. Ferry standing there with a gift and came to say hello for a minute. Amazing guy, teacher and coach! He will be missed.
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Germaine McGrath posted a condolence
Mr. Ferry was a great teacher with a cornball sense of humor. He became our class mascot so tospeak. whenever we get together we tell Don Ferry stories. My condolences to the family.
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Dave Bocchino posted a condolence
Mr. Ferry was an outstanding educator and coach. He taught U.S. History with passion and accuracy and never accepted mediocrity on the ball field. Bruce, Betsy, and Doug - I have many great memories of your Dad and will miss him immensely.
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Robin Schramm Komosinski posted a condolence
I remember Mr. Ferry having this boundless energy. He was always rushing somewhere--the gym, the fields, the ski slopes! He just never stopped! He made us appreciate our American History--our heritage. He tried to make sure we never took our liberty for granted. He was a blast to have on the ski trips. I still tell stories about him to my pediatric patients! He was a fine man. My condolences to his family.
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Rob posted a condolence
July 4th. A most appropriate day to remember Coach Ferry. A patriot, veteran, teacher and coach that never accepted anything but our best efforts. We were so lucky to have him in charge of the long process of turning freshmen into men.
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Robin Bush posted a condolence
May Peace be with Mr. Ferry's Family at this time. Sad to see such a great man pass away.
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Linda Dickinson Allard posted a condolence
I extend my sincerest condolences to the entire family of Don Ferry. As a 1972 BHS graduate, I can well remember his great stories and memorable way of teaching History. He always had a ready smile when he saw us in the hallways or somewhere else. He was a very positive influence in my life and I will always remember his kindness as a teacher. May God bless you Mr. Ferry. Sincerely, Linda Dickinson Allard
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Rod Hynes posted a condolence
As a Falcon Scholarship recipient I was blessed to have had Don Ferry to mentor me at Valley Forge in 88 to 89... Because of his efforts I actually graduated and he commissioned me in 93... He was a great man and I am saddened for the family...
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Mirella posted a condolence
Young and unmated rvnaes gather together in roosts to flirt and share information concerning the location of food. Mated rvnaes are highly territorial and will fiercely defend any scrap of carrion in their turf. A solitary raven would have little chance of securing a meal from hostile pairs, and so they gather together to overwhelm their defenses.Roosts vary in size. They can be large and traditional with stable locations, especially if there is a landfill nearby or other more certain food source. Or they can be smaller, roving camps that settle down near carcasses that don't last quite so long. Ravens have also been known to form small foraging gangs that fan out from one of the large communal roost sites. When birds in a roost decide to move locations they fly high and circle to alert nearby roostmates that it is moving time. A clear signal that is easy to spot from some distance. The rvnaes you observed could have been connected to a roost or they could have been a mated pair gathering up and rallying with their own three fledglings before heading elsewhere.
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Russ Young posted a condolence
Don Ferry was an important my of my life as a student at Bernard's High. Hr was more than a teacher and coach. I also was fortunate to have worked for him several summers at his camp. Best wishes to his family.
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Scott Moore posted a condolence
Thanks for making history interesting and fun. You will be greatly missed.
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Betsy Ferry Stevens posted a condolence
I will always have the summers at Fairview Lake, beach trips, ski trips, running around the athletic building watching BHS sports games, singing Beach Boys songs,and your teaching me History in Lecture. Me and the kids will miss your love for us forever more....Love you Daddy xoxox
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Stephanie Yunker-Crosby posted a condolence
My thoughts and prayers are with your family at this time. Your father was such a wonderful man and I will always remember him and the memories will last a lifetime.
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Carol & Jim Henderlong posted a condolence
Our sympathy and prayers are with the Ferry family. Don held a special place in our hearts from the time we met in 1992 when he guided our son through Valley Forge Academy and on to the Air Force Academy. The friendship continued throughout the years, including being a part of his chaperones in the People to People program. Will always remember his smile and laughter.
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Vicki Weiss Malizia posted a condolence
Dear Betsey and Family,
I will always remember your dad from the good old Fairview Lake Days...the Indian Dance Team, sneaking to watch Color War, and the "Rock". He was a good man. Always cherish your memories, they will make you smile and laugh again soon.
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Angela Naik posted a condolence
Thank you, Mr. Ferry, for so many wonderful memories. I will always remember you for making my typically worst subject fun and interesting, dancing in the front of class to old war songs and watching thw boys hide their hats from you in the hall. You truly made a difference! Class of 92
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Mary Jane Murray posted a condolence
Remembering You Don,
Recalling the devotion to craft, the focus on youth,the energy,the standards of excellence...all that,I found in your example. Great memories.... talks about New Jersey history, the ORYMCA riding list after lunch, your Kittatinny campfires, the Indian dancing, that blue and white van, your endless singing, the caving, the white water rafting, the biking in Gettysburg and the nights at the Newton, Dunkin Donuts!! You, Larry and Ray, a team no other has matched, to date, in my career. Make Happy Tracks in the snow my friend and find rest. Aggie Murray PS: Sorry it took me so long to return the tools.
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Mark Singer posted a condolence
I was a camper at Kittatinny in the early 1960's. Besides my father, Don Ferry was the most impressive man I had ever met. Just the way he conducted himself and the manner in which he inspired all those around him made him a role model that has lived with me for the last forty plus years. Our heartfelt condolences to the entire Ferry family. The Singers
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Steven Scott posted a condolence
I want to give my condolences to his family, he was so proud of all of you. Don was a coach, counselor, teacher, mentor and friend to me. Yes, he taught me as well as 5 generations of students at Bernard High. He was my High School Athletic Director and Football Coach when we won the conference title in 1966 and coached one of the most memorable wins in New Jersey sports history the next year. It was 1967 and we had not won a game and we were 30 point underdogs to the cross town rivals, Ridge High, which if they won would be conference champs. All week long we wore “Spoilers “on our helmets. We warm up on our field and getting on the bus to get to the game, Coach Ferry, open a box that had our game Jersey’s with the title “Beat Ridge”. He said if we won we could keep them and I still have mine over 40 years later.
Don would take me and others in the spring to lifeguard on Fairview Lake at the summer camp he directed, ORYMCA. Later I became a counselor for ORYMCA camp that Don directed and I recall our “Rutgers Team” winning the “Color War “with another of Don imaginative ideas of spelling out Rutgers using car lights.
He was always involved in the service of his county with the military academy and at Valley Forge even in his late years. He helped me get his local congressman to help pass a bill that lead to the polytrauma system of care that has helped so many of the seriously injured in the current war.
Don would always send me a Christmas card with his won/lost record of a football team he was coaching and always updated me on his family for close to 40 years.
Don Ferry has met a lot in my life and I will always remember him. He will be in my thoughts and prayers.
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Steven Greenblum posted a condolence
Sleepaway camp at Fairview Lake Camps every summer was one of my fondest memories as a child and really helped me become the independent person I am today. I wish I could go back and spend a summer there. One of the people I really looked up to was the camp director, Don Ferry. This man was tough as nails and scared the hell out of me, especially at the beginning, but as I got to know him I grew to really admire and respect him. He was tough, but fair. The man was a born leader and knew how to get the most out of people. Each summer we would have an awards campfire the night before we were going home, and at the end he would lead in the singing of the camp song, "Dear Old Kittatinny," great memories that have lasted a lifetime. Thank you, Don. Rest in peace.
Steven Greenblum
Fairview Lake Camps
1976-1983
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JEFFREY R. Stein posted a condolence
Dear Doug, Betsy, and family... I am so very saddened to hear of your Dad's passing. It's ironic that I had been thinking of him just a few weeks ago too, and had checked to see if he was actually on Facebook. Regrettably, I had lost touch with him after the days of my stay at Camp Kittatinny - where I was a camper for many years, a CIT, and a Junior Counselor. I remember when you guys were young kids at the Camp...you were good kids and sure made your Dad proud. I remember the great stories Don told of the Lenni Lenape Indians - around the campfire - and the excitement and entertainment he had roused - while wearing a traditional Native headdress and standing in front of the large, crackling, hot fire with his arms firmly crossed. He had such great intensity and charisma about him.. I remember that warm smile at times and that glow in his eyes. I admired his toughness, his smartness, and his leadership of the Camp. I truly liked him very much and valued his friendship. I must say he was tough, but he was fair. He was also so kind and had a big heart too.I recall how excited I was when he graciously gave me some Bernard High School sweatshirts and pants... Heck, if you had those, you were "golden" at Camp, because everyone knew that Don Ferry liked you and that really meant a lot. I also recall suggesting to him that I may not be able to come back to camp the following year, unless he was able to make me a CIT. To my delight, after camp, he eventually wrote me a letter inviting me back and making me the youngest CIT in the history of the Camp at that time. He really made me feel special. He was that kind of a guy. I will always treasure the great memories with Don Ferry and Camp - really some of the best experiences and times of my life. Please know that my heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with your family. RIP Don
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pierce combs posted a condolence
The leader, the man iron man, the man with the biggest heart, which brought out the best in all. it is hard to belief he is gone. I was a camper at camp kittatinny in northern new jersey, and done was a unit director. he coached me as a baseball pitcher, for two years. then he was our director for a program counselors in training. don was always there to help, advise, and support. family in the early years your mother ,and don whould bring you down to the waterfront for a swim. all had a wonderful time. we all miss him and his memory shall endure for many years. smile, for he now a coaching the baseball team in heaven. good bye pierce combs
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Joe Blewitt posted a condolence
Truly a one of a kind man! I'm one of the literally hundreds of students Colonel Ferry helped get into the Air Force Academy. I'm fairly certain no other liaison officer placed more cadets into the Air Force Academy than he did. For some, this would be a single achievement in life they could hang their hat and it would be a fulfilling life. However, for Colonel Ferry, this is just one of so many similarly monumental achievements.
I can't imagine there are too many other people that have touched as many lives in a positive way as Colonel Ferry has. From his teaching to his coaching to his camps and so much more. This world is a much better place because Don Ferry was here. I am so grateful our paths crossed when I was a teenager. There is no doubt in my mind, my career path in life would have taken a different turn if our paths hadn't crossed. 31 years later I'm still wearing the blue uniform he made it possible for me to wear.
Thanks Don and my heartfelt condolences to the Ferry family,
Lt Col Joe Blewitt
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Tom Jacobs posted a condolence
Mr. Ferry was a fine teacher, coach, administrator and official. I had a great deal of respect for him, and it was good to see him for Sunday services at Bernardsville United Methodist Church. All my best to his family.
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Adam Eckhardt posted a condolence
There really isn't enough space for me to show the appreciation I have for knowing Mr. Ferry.
As the ski team coach he drove a bus load of loud and unruly teenagers to and from the mountain up to six days a week. There were countless times he went above and beyond his duties as coach. Not only did he care about our success as a team, but he cared about us as students and took an interest in our lives.
I had the privilege of traveling twice with Mr. Ferry with the People to People student travel program. He taught us to be distinctive ambassadors.
I will miss his sense of humor and witty comebacks, his victory laps through the Burger King drive through, and his worldly experiences that he so kindly shared with us.
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Greg posted a condolence
Don was an icon, a true legend at Camp Kittatinny. You learned so much by just watching him conduct himself. Always tough but always fair. A true mentor. You will be missed by many, Don. God bless you and the entire Ferry family in thgeir time of grief.
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Gregory Pearson BHS '77 posted a condolence
My condolences to the Ferry Family. Mr. Ferry was a superb educator who taught me US history more than 35 years ago. The class was always interesting and always engaging. I still recall the discussion about the New York Senate race between Daniel Patrick Moynihan and James Buckley (who I erroneously referred to was William F. Buckley). He touched the lives of so many students over so many years: Our class was so pleased when he came back as an honored guest for our 25th reunion. He will be missed.
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sue hogeboom levitt posted a condolence
Mr Ferry brought history to life. I always
hated history until he became my
teacher.
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Leroy Corbin - BHS '72 posted a condolence
Although I’ve lived on the West Coast for 30 years, I still like to check up occasionally on events in my old hometown of Bernardsville. What a shock it was to read of the death of “Mr. Ferry”, my former history teacher and friend. Don introduced me to the world of cave exploration shortly before my 1972 graduation from Bernards High, an activity I continued for many years after. My early visits back to Bernardsville, while Don was still teaching at BHS, always included a stop at the school to say hello. He took great interest in my military career. Don was definitely in the category of ‘teachers we’ll never forget’.
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John Curtis posted a condolence
Don Ferry had an outstanding impact on my life. I first met him while an 8 year old at Camp Minisink. I remember this gruff guy that my brother absolutely loved talking about. Through the years I looked forward to the summers across the lake at Kittatinny. I rose through the ranks from camper to CIT to Counselor. As time rolled on it dawned on me that he was the figure that I aspired to be. First a teacher then coach and finally I also became a high school Athletic Director(Princeton High). When I would occasionally run into Don at various athletic events it was with pride that we'd greet each other. I for having followed in his steps, he for undoubtedly seeing that he'd been an outstanding role model. Jackie Robinson said "a life is only as important as its impact on other lives". Using that as the criteria Don experienced a wonderful life. RIP my friend.
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Renee posted a condolence
Thank you, Mr. Ferry, for your support over the years of Bernards High School students academics and athletics. You made a positive difference in the lives of many young people, and we are grateful to you. May God bless you.