Carl W. Ferris

Carl William Ferris of Rock Hall, Maryland died on Thursday, November 26, 2009, after a brief illness due to complications from heart disease, at the Washington Hospital Center in Washington D.C. He was 83. He was born on March 6, 1926 in Olean, New York, the son of the late Loyal W. and Bernice Glady Ferris. He was a 1943 graduate of Olean High School and graduated in the Class of 1947 from Cornell University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Mr. Ferris attended Cornell while he was in the United States Navy in their V-12 program during World War II. He met his wife, Constance (Connie) Foley Ferris, of over 62 years, while they were students. They married on June 16, 1947, the day Mrs. Ferris graduated. Mr. Ferris went to work for the DuPont Company in Wilmington, Delaware in January of 1947 and continued in the Petroleum Chemical Division for 17 years, which included seven years in Chicago, IL. In 1963 he left DuPont and became a franchisee of Burger King restaurants in Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Ferris owned and operated all the Burger Kings in Bucks and Montgomery counties for 23 years. After his retirement in 1986, Carl and Connie divided their time between Naples, Florida and their beloved home, Kimbolton, which they purchased in 1971 in Rock Hall, Maryland. "Retirement" was a busy time with much travel, collecting of antiques, visiting with family and friends, and enjoying the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Mr. and Mrs. Ferris actively supported many charitable, educational, and community organizations both around Rock Hall and Chestertown and throughout the East Coast. They established the first faculty chair in the College of Human Ecology at Cornell, The Ferris Family Professorship in Life Course Studies, as well as an endowed chair in business management at Washington College in Chestertown. Mr. Ferris was preceded in death by his daughter, Amy Lynn Ferris DiMarzio, and his sister, Dolores Ferris Fitzpatrick. He is survived by his wife, Connie, his daughter, Connie Ferris Meyer of Malvern, Pennsylvania, three grandchildren, Eric G. Meyer (Kara) of Oakland, California, Bethany Meyer Paves (Michael) and Robyn P. Meyer (Paul) both of San Francisco, California, and two great-grandchildren, Chloe Sammet Meyer and Bode Sammet Meyer Oakland, California, two sisters, Audrey Ferris Drake of Lexington, South Carolina and Sandra Ferris Scott of Tamaqua, Pennsylvania, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. The family will be accepting visitors at the Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home in 130 Speer Road, Chestertown, Maryland 21620 on Friday, December 4, 2009 from 6:00pm to 8:00 pm. His memorial service will be held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 7579 Sandy Bottom Road, Chestertown, Maryland 21620 on Saturday, December 5, 2009 at 1pm with burial to follow in the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to: The Amy Lynn Ferris Adult Activity Center, 200 Schauber Road, Chestertown, Maryland 21620, St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or to the charity of your choice.

Carl W. Ferris

March 6, 1926 - November 27, 2009