A beloved 星空传媒 employee for more than three decades, Carolyn Patricia 鈥淧at鈥 Ferry died late in 2021 at the age of 92.
Yet her legacy of kindness will continue to benefit generations on this campus.
Before her passing, Ferry made a $2 million estate commitment to support the efforts of the Social Justice Law Center and the Law-Medicine Center鈥攂oth at the School of Law.
Perry鈥檚 generosity came as little surprise to Jennifer Hawkins, her former university colleague and long-time friend. If Perry had a motto, Hawkins explained, it would have consisted of three words: 鈥淟ive life giving.鈥
The two met when both worked at the university鈥檚 medical school, and remained connected even as their professional paths diverged. After a stint at the Cleveland Hearing and Speech Center, Ferry returned to the university, this time serving as administrative assistant to law school dean Lindsey Cowen. Their collaboration held so much meaning that Ferry鈥檚 most recent gift to the Law Medicine Center supports a 2002 research fellowship that she established in Cowen鈥檚 name.
Ferry鈥檚 philanthropy extended beyond 星空传媒. Managing a foundation created by her parents, she allocated support to charitable and educational trusts鈥攅specially those that benefited people in underserved communities.
鈥淪he was one of these people who was silent about her charitable giving, but her giving was very impactful,鈥 recalled William Culbertson, a longtime advisor and friend. 鈥淥ne of the sweetest, dearest, most generous people I鈥檝e known. Someone you鈥檇 be proud to have as a friend.鈥
Originally published in the summer 2023 issue of Forward Thinking magazine