Spring Break
Beloved, retired Roger Williams Dining Hall employee dies of leukemia
Noelle Myers
Issue date: 2/4/09 Section: News
02/04/09 - A retired University of Rhode Island Dining Services employee Al "Butch" Ferris passed away on Jan. 27 after fighting a tough battle with Leukemia.
Two winters ago, Butch took a sudden leave of absence after a serious back injury. During his recovery, he suffered from a stroke that disabled his right side. He eventually retired from the Roger Williams Dining Hall and students were sad to know he wasn't coming back.
"He always had a smile on every time I walked into the dining hall," junior Danielle Schaeffer recalled. She said he used to know everyone's name.
Approximately two years after the stroke, Butch woke up one day feeling sick from what he thought was food poisoning.
"It ended up being more serious than that," said Sebastion Bogusz, neighbor and friend Butch's son Chris Ferris.
Butch found out he had Leukemia, but the doctors had thought his case was treatable, Bogusz said.
In his last hours, Bogusz said, he surpassed the doctor's expectations for how long he had to live. He passed away at 4:30 a.m.
Butch grew up in Rhode Island and was well known at URI for his energetic personality. He started working in the dining hall in 1984.
Bogusz said he had a strong relationship with many of the students and they knew him on a first-name basis.
In his later years, Butch became interested in photography. He would take pictures of the students and later post them throughout the dining hall, Bogusz said. He posted collages along the stairway in Roger Williams, along with several residence halls.
Bogusz said there was something about him that was very energetic and caring. Butch had a way of making conversation at any given moment and with anyone, he said.
He recalled times when Butch would set up a yard sale early in the morning on his neighbor's front lawn while they were sleeping as a prank.
Butch was also a big sports fan, and all of his neighbors could easily hear him yelling for the New York Yankees or Dallas Cowboys, said Bogusz. Butch also supported the URI sports teams, Chris Ferris, said.
Butch, however, didn't just watch sports - he participated in them. He was well known in high school for his excellence in track, and in his later years he did extra-curricular activities with URI students. Butch played football, went to Tootell Gymnasium and started games of manhunt with the students.
Butch also picked up cliff diving along the way.
Butch was an avid fisherman. Chris said he mainly enjoyed fresh water fishing and was often found fishing in the local ponds. He said his father had secret spots for fishing and would refuse to tell anyone about them.
"He had a big heart and he always put other people before himself," Chris said.
Butch leaves behind four children, Holly age 28, Ryan age 25, Chris age 23,and Kyle age 21.
Two winters ago, Butch took a sudden leave of absence after a serious back injury. During his recovery, he suffered from a stroke that disabled his right side. He eventually retired from the Roger Williams Dining Hall and students were sad to know he wasn't coming back.
"He always had a smile on every time I walked into the dining hall," junior Danielle Schaeffer recalled. She said he used to know everyone's name.
Approximately two years after the stroke, Butch woke up one day feeling sick from what he thought was food poisoning.
"It ended up being more serious than that," said Sebastion Bogusz, neighbor and friend Butch's son Chris Ferris.
Butch found out he had Leukemia, but the doctors had thought his case was treatable, Bogusz said.
In his last hours, Bogusz said, he surpassed the doctor's expectations for how long he had to live. He passed away at 4:30 a.m.
Butch grew up in Rhode Island and was well known at URI for his energetic personality. He started working in the dining hall in 1984.
Bogusz said he had a strong relationship with many of the students and they knew him on a first-name basis.
In his later years, Butch became interested in photography. He would take pictures of the students and later post them throughout the dining hall, Bogusz said. He posted collages along the stairway in Roger Williams, along with several residence halls.
Bogusz said there was something about him that was very energetic and caring. Butch had a way of making conversation at any given moment and with anyone, he said.
He recalled times when Butch would set up a yard sale early in the morning on his neighbor's front lawn while they were sleeping as a prank.
Butch was also a big sports fan, and all of his neighbors could easily hear him yelling for the New York Yankees or Dallas Cowboys, said Bogusz. Butch also supported the URI sports teams, Chris Ferris, said.
Butch, however, didn't just watch sports - he participated in them. He was well known in high school for his excellence in track, and in his later years he did extra-curricular activities with URI students. Butch played football, went to Tootell Gymnasium and started games of manhunt with the students.
Butch also picked up cliff diving along the way.
Butch was an avid fisherman. Chris said he mainly enjoyed fresh water fishing and was often found fishing in the local ponds. He said his father had secret spots for fishing and would refuse to tell anyone about them.
"He had a big heart and he always put other people before himself," Chris said.
Butch leaves behind four children, Holly age 28, Ryan age 25, Chris age 23,and Kyle age 21.
