Hugh Sutherland Ferguson
August 15, 1916 - March 21, 2011
Obituary
Hugh Sutherland Ferguson passed away March 21, 2011 at the age of 94 after a brief illness. Hugh was a true Seattle native and proud of it. Born August 15, 1916, to Ruth Schram Ferguson and George A. Ferguson in Seattle, he had deep roots in the Northwest. Ancestors include Territorial Governor Isaac Stevens and Seattle Business Pioneer John Schram. As a young girl, Hugh’s mother Ruth witnessed the 1889 Seattle Fire. Hugh had fond memories of growing up on Capitol Hill with twin sister Ann and brother Jack. He graduated from Broadway High School where he lettered in golf – a lifelong passion. Summers were spent at Chevy Chase Inn on Discovery Bay where he developed a love for the outdoors – climbing the major peaks of the Olympics. Hugh attended the University of Washington 1936 where he affiliated with the Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity DKE with whom he enjoyed a lifelong association.
Life was an adventure for Hugh. Among the most formative was his 5 years of service as an officer in the US Army during WWII. He was stationed on Attu Island in the Aleutians and then Okinawa, where building airfields led to a 70-year construction career. In 1946, he married his beloved Jane Avery with whom he shared a 42-year partnership, enjoying a life of friends, family, and world travel. Together they took great joy in the establishment of their beautiful garden in Medina, a highlight of many garden tours, including ‘Farmer Ferg’s corn patch’. Their daughter Ellen was born in 1950, and as a close knit trio they shared a love of travel and nature, taking trips to distant lands and spending time at their cabin on Discovery Bay.
One of Hugh’s great legacies was the Ferguson Construction Co. Founded in 1948, the company specialized in commercial construction, including warehouses, industrial parks and shopping centers throughout the Northwest and Alaska. He pioneered the use of tilt-up concrete construction design. Hugh stayed close to the company after selling it in the early 1980’s and is proud of its continued contribution to the community.
Following his ‘retirement,’ Hugh took great pleasure continuing his pursuits in land development, building an excellent collection of Alaskan and Northwest art, and becoming more fully engaged in civic life. He loved his community and gave back in many ways. The Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation was established in 1987 as a vehicle for the family to enjoy supporting many organizations throughout the Northwest – particularly those related to stewardship of the natural environment and its cultural heritage. The Ferguson family received Philanthropy Northwest’s 2005 Top Philanthropic Family Award. Hugh made friends wherever he went, and some of his dearest are from the organizations he funded, whose regular lunches helped keep him in ‘the game’. Hugh had a special relationship with the Burke Museum, as a founding board member and enthusiastic participant in many field trips, including dinosaur hunting, archaeological digs, and sailing the Northwest Coast.
Hugh loved the natural environment and was a true adventurer. From stocking trout in Cascade lakes in the 1930’s, to annual fly fishing float trips in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, to participating in the first ‘civilian’ excursion to Antarctica in the 1970’s, to a journey across the Sahara desert, he had an enormous curiosity about the world and enjoyment of the people he met along the way. In his late 80’s he completed a goal – circumnavigating the North Pacific, visiting the Kamchatka Peninsula, the Aleutians, and the Alaskan Arctic. He was not just a traveler but a scholar of these parts of the world with a wonderful library to back this up.
Hugh was the ultimate people person. He was a joiner and a doer. He was a founding member of Overlake Golf Course and enjoyed a million lunches at the Rainier Club, College Club, and Columbia Tower Club, to name a few. He is a long-time member of Seattle 4 Rotary Club. He thoroughly enjoyed ‘cards’ with his pals at Broadmoor Golf Club and Seattle Yacht Club in his later years.
Many thanks to Hugh’s team of Tara, Heidi, Jon, Ginny and Therese who enabled Hugh to continue enjoying his beautiful home and garden with his cat Scampi and to engage in work and community activities until his final days. Hugh’s great zest for life, good humor, and gift of friendship will be sorely missed but warmly remembered.
Hugh is preceded in death by his sister Ann Shoudy, brother Jack, and wife Jane. He is survived by daughter Ellen Kumuda Kali, niece Janet Warford, grandnieces and nephew Andy Meucci Mike, John Warford Liv, Tori Yapp Bob and their children, and nieces and nephews across the country.
Remembrances to:
Avery-Ferguson Endowment for Excellence, Burke Museum, Box 353010, UW, Seattle, WA 98195
Seattle Public Library Foundation, 1000 4th Ave, Seattle, WA 98104
Tacoma Goodwill Industries, 714 S 27th, Tacoma, WA 98409
Woodland Park Zoo, 601 N 59th St, Seattle, WA 98103
A celebration of Hugh’s life will be held 3-6pm Saturday, May 14, 2011. Remarks will begin at 4:15pm.
Please RSVP to hsfMay14@yahoo.com.
Meet at St. Thomas Episcopal Church. 8398 NE 12th St, Medina, 98039. Shuttle service to event begins at 2:45 pm.
Ellen – Although I never met your father, I felt I knew a bit of him through our conversations and your stories. He seemed like such a giant of a man with a tender heart. My thoughts are with you.
Warmly,
LeAnne
Dear Ellen,
It was a pleasure and honor to meet your father, and especially enjoyable for Steven Kazlowski, Amy Gulick and I to spend time with you both talking about the wilderness of Alaska he loved so deeply. We enjoyed “plotting” to get your father up to the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas this year to see a polar bear in the wild. When he spoke of his time in the wilderness, his enthusiasm and wonder was heartfelt– like that of a young child brimming with enthusiasm and imagination. Through his generosity, many people will be able to better envision the world of the polar bear, the beauty of the Tongass Rain Forest, and so much more. He will be missed, but his footprints are indelible.
With warm regard and respect, Helen
On Mondays and Wednesdays at Extreme Fitness Studios I felt like the little fox in the book The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupéry and I quote” If, for example, you come at four o’clock in the afternoon, then at three o’clock I shall begin to be happy. At four o’clock I shall already be worrying and jumping about. I shall show you how happy I am! But if you come at just any time, I shall never know at what hour my heart is to be ready to greet you.” because I would be so happy and looking forward to 2:30 – 3:00 PM when Mr. Hugh Ferguson would be coming to train.
I enjoyed his stories and discussing current events. My favorite days were training in the pool, those I loved most.
I am grateful for the opportunity to be his friend. He is sorely missed. I believe from all the good he did in his life that he is now enjoying his eternal reward with his loving wife, Jane, in Heaven. Sad as I am, for myself, I am joyous for Hugh.
Ellen, I worked at the Kirkland Dennys from 1980 to 2000 I knew both you mother Jane and your father Hugh! I loved them both ! After your mother passed I became even better friends with Hugh and his friend John Putman they would meet every Thursday morning! they were two of my favorite people! They use to joke that they helped raise me I was 20 when I started working at Dennys after a couple failed boy friends, a. marriage at age 30 , baby at 32 and we built a knew home at 40 Hugh and John even came out to our property give us their opinion about whether it was a good ybuildable site and to give us some advice about some wetland issues we were having with snohomsh county they were great friends and I miss both of them the last time I saw Hugh was at Johns funeral I really miss Hugh I really wish I kept in touch with him his was a great man!
I only met Mr. Ferguson a few times but was immediately impressed with his wit, charm and dedication to his company, his employees and his family. A true icon of the construction industry. He was a role model that many others in the industry set their life standards by. I regret I will be out of state on the date of his memorial but our thoughts will be with those that can be present.
Ellen: I send my heartfelt condolences to you and your family on the passing of your Father. I fondly remember having several meetings with him and hearing about his love of Seattle history and SPL. His philanthropic heart was larger than life. He has left a wonderful legacy to the Pacific Northwest and to all of us who will be eternally grateful for his values that he shared with so many. Sorrow does not last forever, Ellen, love does. May only the happiest and loving memories remain and may you be comforted by their joy.
Ellen,
Hugh was a great man in our community that we are honored to have known.
Best, Doug
Ellen,
My deepest sympathies for your loss. My pleasure and honor to have met him.
Patrick
Dear Ellen,
On behalf of the AGC of Washington, please accept our condolences in the loss of your father.
When your father retired from Ferguson Construction and because of his distinguished service to the construction industry, he was made an Honorary Member of the AGCWA by our Board. This is a very honored and prestigious title not given out often. As an Honorary Member, he so enjoyed coming to our annual Past Presidents and Old Timers’ Night, the last of which was held last September. Watching him and others reminisce with old friends is what this event is all about — memories shared between good friends over a lifetime. I did not know your father well, however, did have the privilege of being seated next to him at one of our latest get togethers. My impression of him was that of an extremely intelligent man, well respected by everyone, down to earth, with a great sense of humor; and, simply put, a very nice man.
He will be missed.
If what Hugh has left behind are any indications of his life of vitality, creativity and generosity, then we need only look to his home and gardens and his wonderful daughter, Ellen, who both epitomize these three attributes. His memory and legacy will be with us for a very long time.
I am, unfortunately, not able to attend as I will be out of town for a pre-planned trip. But I’ll be doing what Hugh loved, fishing in the great outdoors off the Olympic Peninsula.
Casey
Dear Ellen,
Your father Hugh S Ferguson was a magnificent man who touched so many lives in a positive way. Over the years I watched how Hugh touched others in a way that changed them forever. That is how magnificent he was, he changed everyone and everything he touched especially ME! I will hold him in my heart forever and am eternally grateful for all I have learned from him and everything he has taught me. I am truly grateful for the knowledge I have today because of Hugh S Ferguson, best man to ever walk this earth. I loved him and will miss him forever. Thank you for everything, I have enjoyed working with you over the past decade and wish nothing but the best in your future.
Tara A Wilkins
Dear Ellen –
Harry and I will miss Hugh so much. He has been a huge part of my life for more than 25 years,and regularly entertained me with his direct and practical approach to life and his sense of humor. As his attorney, I saw Hugh move from one project to the next with skill and enjoyment, even during his “non-retirement” years. Together, we had many exciting work adventures – he was also there for me with his help and wisdom when needed. And he always spoke about your achievements and travels with true father’s pride.
Harry and I feel especially fortunate to have had Hugh in our lives, and we are so sorry for your personal loss. A man of his stature leaves behind a large void.
I know Hugh will be around in spirit, and regret I cannot speak at his memorial because Mara graduates from Colorado State on May 14. Nothing less would keep me away. I will be thinking of him and you that day and often.
Sincerely –
Judith Shulman
Ellen, I am sending prayers of peace and comfort. Be kind to yourself as you heal from this great loss. Know that you are surrounded by much love.
Take care of yourself as you walk through this unfamiliar terrain.
Namaste, Carolyn
Ellen, I was very sad when I read that your father had passed away. You and your family were so much a part of Dick’s early life, and I remember so many great stories he would tell about the Shafer/Ferguson adventures. Even though it has been 17 years since Dick’s death, the stories are still remembered by myself and my two sons. Your father was a remarkable person and truly had a wonderful life. Take care.
Hugh was a wonderful, generous, delightful man that I feel fortunate to have worked for and been friends with. Hugh always had a ‘sparkle’ in his eyes and zest for living-he was as inspiring as he was supportive to me and my family. We viewed him as extended family because of the loving way he embraced us and cared for us. His example of hard work and modesty have helped shape me as a person and my life is truly different and better for knowing him. He assisted me in becoming a better person. I will miss him deeply, but always smile when I think of him. I loved his wife Jane as well and hope to continue a great friendship with his daughter Ellen.This family has been so important to me. Ellen; my deepest sympathy on your loss-on all of our loss. Much love and admiration, Diane and Family.
Ellen, I’m so sorry to learn of your loss of your
Father. What an amazing man and what a great life. I’m glad that I had the opportunity to meet him and to tour his fabulous garden. You are lucky to have had him as your Dad for over 9 decades and he was lucky to have you as his devoted and dedicated daughter also. With Sympathy, Jan
I am so sorry for your loss.
A great honor to know and work with you for 40 years. You will be remembered and missed.
A great honor to know and work with you for 40 years. You will be remembered and missed.
Last Valentine’s Day I visited Hugh. He had just come from the gym. He looked great and was full of charm and humor. He told me what he was going to heat up for dinner that night and we ended up talking about Tasmania, which he had visited enroute to Antarctica. I left his house feeling grateful to know such a vibrant and special man. Goodbye my precious friend.