Thomas H. Ferrer ’64

Tom died Feb. 17, 2025, surrounded by his family at his home in Charlotte, N.C., from Parkinson’s disease and heart failure.

He was born in New York City and graduated from Portsmouth (R.I.) Abbey School. At Princeton, he majored in English and dined at Colonial Club. He later attended Harvard Business School.

Tom worked for 33 years at the Marsh & McLennan agency, where he started in the mailroom and ended up running the firm’s Cleveland office. Over the course of his career, he advised companies, especially automobile manufacturers, worldwide. He described his executive philosophy as “management by walking around.” His door was always open, and he was in the trenches with his team solving problems.

In Cleveland, Tom did charity work with the Boys & Girls Club and with Healthcare for the Homeless Service, which focused on shelter for battered homeless women and children. He was an ardent Francophile and had a photographic memory, which led his children to refer to him as “Tom.com.” He enjoyed the musical quality of words and made them dance in limericks he wrote for any special occasion.

Tom is survived by his wife, Marnie; and three sons, Hugh, Judd and Patrick. We extend condolences to them all.