Charles Duncan Ferris ’42

Charles, one of our brightest, died Jan. 30, 2005, of interstitial lung disease in Morristown, N.J.

Valedictorian and member of the National Honor Society at Mountain Lakes (N.J.) High School, at Princeton Charles earned high honors in mathematics, won the George B. Covington Prize for math, and was a member of Terrace Club. In World War II he was a technical sergeant and commended by the Army for his contributions to ballistics research at Aberdeen (Md.) Proving Ground. In 1943 during his military service, Charles married Eleanor Fribley. Over the ensuing 12 years they had Stephen, Carolyn, Mary, and Peter.

Charles applied his mathematical talents to a career in quality control and operations management. After four years with General Electric as a quality-control engineer, he accepted an offer as quality-control manager at Bigelow Sanford. Four years later, in 1954, he was appointed director of quality control at Mohasco Industries, where he rose to become director of operations.

Always looking for ways to help his community, Charles will be remembered as a co-founder of Fulton-Montgomery County Community College (part of the SUNY network). In retirement he enjoyed reading, classical music, and several trips to Europe.

To Eleanor, the children, Charles' sisters, and four grandchildren, the class extends its deepest condolences.

The Class of 1942