Fred Thayer Ferguson passed away in Manhattan, NY, on Friday, August 22, 2014, at the age of 82. Ferguson was the younger brother of Betty Jane Henry, who, with her husband, Robert, founded the National Hemophilia Foundation (NHF) in 1948.
Early on, Ferguson served on the NHF board and volunteered at medical conferences. At NHF’s 3rd Annual Spring Soiree on June 12, 2013, Ferguson accepted the Founders Award, given to Betty Jane and Robert Henry posthumously, on behalf of the family.
Ferguson made a name for himself in journalism. He worked for United Press International (UPI) for 27 years, starting as a copyboy and moving up the ranks to become a reporter and general news editor. During his career he interviewed presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower, Herbert Hoover and Harry S. Truman, whom he accompanied on daily walks.
In the 1980s, Ferguson began a second career in public relations. In 1994 he was hired by PR Newswire to coach clients on writing press releases. At the age of 77, Ferguson launched a consulting company, Fred-Editing Help.
Ferguson was active throughout his life, enjoying dancing, ice staking, skiing and tennis. He and his long-time friend Gloria Marti enjoyed opera and theater productions in New York City. Ferguson is survived by his son, Dr. Robert Ferguson, of Paxton, MA, and his daughter, Lisa Uchrin of Lebanon, NH, along with three grandchildren.
