Joseph V. Ferry
December 18, 1919 - January 20, 2015
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Joseph V. Ferry
December 18, 1919 - January 20, 2015
Obituary
Joseph V. Ferry passed away in Bellingham on Tuesday January 20, 2015 at 10:15 am. He was born on December 18, 1919 in Cambridge Massachusetts.
In his youth, Joe hitched rides, rode freight trains and pitched camps from Massachusetts to Mexico and back. He served in the Civilian Conservation Corps in New Hampshire working both as a clerk and in the field on various projects. In 1945 Joe graduated from Salem Teachers College and began his long career as a teacher. He started here in the U.S., teaching high school for 8 years in Vermont, Massachusetts and Connecticut.
Joe continued teaching with the Department of Defense as an education advisor for troops in post-occupation Japan for 4 and a half years, later guiding military dependents “on-base” as a high school teacher in Germany, France, Libya and Japan for 28 years.
During Joe’s remarkable, adventurous life of hitchhiking, train hopping, world travel and service, he drove stick shift, fought forest fires in Nevada and was able to type 50 wpm on a mechanical typewriter; he did all these things literally “singlehanded”- a congenital birth defect prevented the use of his right arm.
Joe was a dedicated husband, a devoted father, a great friend, and an inspiration to generations of students across the globe. Joe said the highlights of his life were: “the decades in the field of education in the US and abroad; the friends I made along the way; meeting and marrying my wonderful Japanese wife; and my daughter who was made in France, born in Libya and raised in Japan.”
His funeral service will be held on January 30th at 1pm at Moles Farewell Tributes – Greenacres at 5700 Northwest Drive in Ferndale, WA 98248.
Graveside Service
- Date & Time: January 30, 2015 (12:00 AM)
- Venue: Moles Farewell Tributes - Greenacres
- Location: 5700 Northwest Dr Ferndale, WA 98248 - (Get Directions)
18 responses to Joseph V. Ferry
sam cassiano says:
January 20, 2015
Of all the people that pass through our lives, friends and family, it is our teachers who impact us more than one can imagine. With their patience and dedication they guide us through a world of possibilities. Thank you Mr Ferry for your love and dedication to your students,
Samuel Cassiano
Sylvia New Hatsutani says:
January 20, 2015
To the Ferry family,
My deepest condolences to you.
Mr. Ferry was definitely one of my favorite teachers, and I will always remember him. His way of telling jokes, his smile, his twinkle in his eyes…
May he rest in peace.
Erica Gidion says:
January 20, 2015
My deepest condolences to the Ferry family. Mr. Ferry was my short-hand teacher in 1974, Camp Zama, Japan. He was such an inspiration to me; always encouraging and supportive. I’ve thought of him often over the years and regret I never had an opportunity to thank him for his kindness and devotion to his students. My world has been a better place having known such a wonderful person.
Vincent Kucala says:
January 20, 2015
Mr. Ferry was my Typing teacher at Zama back in 78-79 timeframe. He was patient when I know I tried his patience and he taught me to type and to learn about computers. A great teacher and friend among the students! Sorry for your loss.
Vince Kucala
ZHS
Class of 81
Aries J. Galindo says:
January 20, 2015
Mr. Ferry: Your class was the only class I took faithfully throughout my high school career – by choice. You taught me about perseverance and the importance of practice. Your sense of humor was dry – I’ve never shaken my head as much as I did to your jokes. Your kind words and encouragement and with a lot hard work – offerings of gentle words of praise. You also taught me that I will never be good at shorthand…ever. In your journey your memory will be crisp and there will be no aches and pains. I hope that along your way you find my dad. He will be the one in varying colors of polyester pants and knit shirts. Undoubtedly you two will share bad jokes and speak of your daughters as if they were still babies. Know that you will be missed but also know that your family will be in our thoughts always. That we will be here for them always. ~Aries