Louis B. Ferrara
Last Sunday, Lou Ferrara lost his brave battle with pancreatic cancer at the much-too-young age of 76. He will be greatly missed by his wife Judith, his four children (their spouses), four grandchildren and sister Alice. He was preceded in death by his parents Margaret and Anthony and his siblings, Richard and Nina (Bevis).
Lou was the quintessential late bloomer. He often said that he came a long way from the kid relegated to ‘last-row-last-seat’ at St. Helena’s Catholic School to become an insatiable, life-long learner. His love of reading, particularly non-fiction, and his amazing memory served him well throughout his life. His ability to recount a colorful anecdote – from any point in his life, in precise detail – was uncanny. His knowledge of sports, music and history made him a highly sought after partner in any trivia game.
Throughout his adult life he learned woodworking, Morse code, classical guitar and the Italian language. He went through fanatical stages participating in sports, from tennis and jogging in his early years to golf and biking in middle age. He rode across Iowa six times with RAGBRAI, completed numerous Bike to the Bay rides and summited Trail Ridge Road with Ride the Rockies. He religiously went to the Y first thing every day to swim laps or participate in boot camp. His exercise of choice in his final years was walking his beloved golden retrievers. A lifelong fisherman, his latest interest was fly fishing and finding serenity in the beautiful places that trout like to frequent. After finally conquering his fear of flying, he and Judy traveled extensively together, and with family and close friends. He had an ongoing love-hate relationship with all Philadelphia sports teams, often lamenting their heroic collapses – from the ‘64 Phillies right up through the 2023 Eagles – only to find himself fiercely rooting them on the following year.
His true passion, however, was his family. He proudly boasted that he never missed a single one of his children’s sporting events or concerts. He maintained an extremely close relationship with all of his children and grandchildren throughout his life and always made an effort to connect with each of them on a personal level. He shamelessly bragged of their achievements, to anyone who would listen, all the way up to his dying breath.
He was also a trial lawyer for 45 years. He fought hard for every client he ever represented and insisted his job was to comfort the afflicted, while afflicting the comfortable.
There will be a visitation at McCrery & Harra Funeral Home, 3924 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE on June 13, 2024 from 5-8 p.m. Overflow parking is available at the Brandywine YMCA, connected via lighted pathway to the funeral home lot.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made in his name to the charity of your choice.
