Montpelier, VT On November 11, 2017, Ronald Mansfield Ferry, Jr. departed the blue green hills of Earth and ventured forth to rejoin his beloved wife, Sylvia and walk among the stars. Born on April 26, 1921 to Ronald and Virginia Townsend Ferry, Ron grew up in Concord, MA, the hometown of Henry David Thoreau, whose minimalist Yankee ethic influenced Ron for ninety-six and one half years. Ron was graduated from The Fenn School 34, The Phillips Exeter Academy 39, Harvard College 43, and Harvard Medical School 48. These schools shaped his self-disciplined and ethical character and his thoughtful measured personality. Rons life changed forever on December 22, 1944 when he married Sylvia Thayer at her family church, The First Church of Christ, Unitarian, Lancaster, MA. Sylvias warm and loving manner, brilliant mind and visionary spirit complemented Rons serious shy nature. After graduation from medical school, Ron and Sylvia moved to Minneapolis where Ron taught anatomy at Northwestern Medical School. Ron enlisted in the US Army and served as a medical doctor on the Korean Peninsula. The carnage of war and separation from Sylvia and their two infant children, Charles and Sylvia was traumatic. His dedication to his family, medical practice, and the natural world veiled his war time experience. After his honorable discharge, Ron and his family moved to Hanover, NH, where they welcomed the birth of their daughter, Elizabeth. Ron completed his surgical training at the Veterans Hospital in White River Junction, VT and Mary Hitchcock Hospital in Hanover, NH. Ron and Sylvia chose Montpelier, VT as their new home. Montpelier had an excellent public school system and Heaton Hospital, now Heaton House, was small and well-staffed and managed. They purchased the Jensen Farm on the edge of town. Ron became Montpeliers first Board Certified General Surgeon. Ron said, "One of lifes greatest pleasures is seeing the patient get well." He made house calls, often accompanied by his children. He was paid by insurance checks, fresh lake trout, venison, moose hides, and heavy coin-filled mason jars. He treated all of his patients with skill and compassion. He and Sylvia lived the Vermont ethic, "Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without." In 1984, Ron retired and he and Sylvia turned their attention to VT agriculture, the arts and the peace movement. They raised turkeys, organic vegetables and tapped 100 sugar maple trees. They were active in the VT Turkey Growers Association, the VT Maple Sugar Makers Association and the Northeast Organic Farmers Association. They won ribbons at the Tunbridge Worlds Fair and The VT Farm Show. They were founding supporters of The Food Works at Two Rivers Food Center. Ron learned to play the clarinet and Sylvia the timpani and they performed in the Montpelier Community Band and Orchestra. They organized and sponsored the Gatherings on Behalf of Life concerts and lectures that featured The Paul Winter Consort and pediatrician Benjamin Spock. They were patrons of The Lost Nation Theater. They attended The New York Metropolitan Opera and loved the romance and beauty of horse racing in Saratoga. They were life long leaders and members of the Unitarian Church of Montpelier. They enjoyed outings with their children and grandchildren. Ron wrote and illustrated poetry and short stories. He carved wood figures of his favorite characters. He carefully studied the works of Henry David Thoreau, Robert Frost, Joseph Conrad, Loren Eiseley, Wendell Berry, Brian Friel and David Budbill. Life took an unhappy turn when Sylvia died suddenly on March 9, 2009, at the age of eighty-nine. Despite the unflagging best efforts of his family, friends, colleagues, and Cap the Border Collie, Ron was haunted by Sylvias absence. In 2017, Ron moved from his beloved hillside farm to The Gary Residence in Montpelier. The kind and compassionate staff, residents, therapy dogs and Central VT Home Health and Hospice nurses brought moments of joy and peace to Rons last months. He died there peacefully in his sleep, secure and without pain, in the company of his family, friends and staff. He left a legacy of a life well lived; our beautiful world is populated with two and four-footed creatures who benefitted from his thoughtful love, educated mind and skillful medical care. In the words of Quaker Stephen Grellet, "I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again." Ron is survived by his three children: Charles M. Ferry of Montpelier, Sylvia (and Edward) F. Smith of Cabot, and Elizabeth W. Ferry of South Royalton, and grandchildren Katherine Lindsey Swope (and John) of Powell, Wyoming and Nathaniel (and Elizabeth Bean) Smith of Cabot, Vermont. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to either of these Montpelier non-profit organizations: The Gary Residence (note Endowment Fund on the memo line) or The Bridge newspaper. You are invited to attend a celebration of Ron Ferrys life on Thursday, December 7, 2017 at 2:00 pm at The Unitarian Church of Montpelier, 130 Main Street.