Dudley Alfred Ferrari

1936 - 2024

Dudley Alfred Ferrari

Cary, NC - Dudley Alfred Ferrari, MD, 87, of Cary, N.C. and formerly of Naples, Fla. and Shrewsbury, Mass. passed away peacefully on January 15, 2024 with his three children by his bedside. He joins his wife of 63 years, Katherine (Kathy) Johnston Ferrari in heaven who departed this earth two months ago on November 18, 2023. Born in North Adams, Mass., Dudley grew up in Shelburne Falls, Mass. and was the son of the late Alfred and Helen Ferrari. He graduated from Deerfield Academy in 1955, where he was a member of the football, basketball, and baseball teams.

After his freshman year at Columbia University in New York City, Dudley was working at a power company in June 1956 and was electrocuted in an accident, sustaining life-threatening injuries and severe burns requiring an extensive hospital stay and many surgeries including those impacting his left throwing hand and left Achilles tendon. A member of the Sigma Chi fraternity and player on both the football and baseball teams at Columbia since his freshman year, Dudley overcame those injuries against major odds and continued to play football and baseball there until his graduation in 1959, immediately followed by the beginning of his medical training as an orthopedic surgeon.

Dudley and Kathy were married in Greenfield, Mass. on August 13, 1960. In 1963 he received his MD from the Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons and then completed his internship and residency in general surgery at Tufts-New England Medical Center in Boston in 1965.

From 1965-1967, Dudley served as a U.S. Air Force Captain at Laredo Air Force Base, Laredo, Texas where he was chief of surgery. In 1970 he completed a three-year residency in orthopedic surgery at Jackson Memorial Hospital, University of Miami. Dudley moved to Manchester, Conn. where he practiced with Orthopedic Services of Manchester for ten years. He then received a fellowship in arthroscopic surgery and sports medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

Following his fellowship, Dudley practiced orthopedics at St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester, Mass., and then at UMass Memorial Medical Center, where he was Chief of Sports Medicine and Professor of Orthopedics until his retirement in 2002. He actively taught and guided the medical students, residents, fellows, and orthopedic surgeons at UMass during his tenure. Dudley received the Distinguished Service Award for Service and Dedication to the Clark University Department of Athletics. He also authored the book, "Reflections and Conclusions About the Problem Knee."

Dudley and Kathy retired to Naples, where he enjoyed playing golf at The Strand and recorded two holes in one. He was also an avid reader of American history and was a charter member of as well as a Board Member of the Columbia University Club of Southwest Florida. He also loved being a hands on and engaged grandfather to his six grandchildren, taking them on rides in his golf cart and accompanying them on fun excursions to museums, parks, and zoos across the U.S.

After 19 wonderful years in Naples, Dudley and Kathy moved to the Waltonwood senior living community in Cary in November 2021, where they could receive the support and care they needed in their later years and be close to their youngest daughter Gail. In his two years at Waltonwood, he was incredibly friendly to and appreciative of the many staff members and caregivers in independent living and assisted living who took care of him and Kathy. The family would like to thank all staff and management at Waltonwood Cary, the visiting medical providers at Eventus WholeHealth, and the occupational and physical therapists at Legacy Healthcare Services for being thorough and passionate caregivers to Dudley. In addition, the family thanks the incredibly caring nursing and medical staff at WakeMed Cary Hospital, including Dr. Syed Tasleem. They would also like to recognize the incredible support and caregiving provided by all of the hospice staff and volunteers at Transitions LifeCare of Raleigh where he spent the final five days of his amazing life on this earth.

Dudley and Kathy were together for a total of 70 years after meeting in Greenfield, Mass. at a concert. He is survived by daughters Susan (Robert) Colleran of Glastonbury, Conn. and Gail (Charles) Marold of Cary, N.C., and son James (Gina) Ferrari of Littleton, Colo. along with six grandchildren: Meredith, Mark, and Eric Colleran; Nicholas and Christopher Ferrari; and Allison Marold. He was pleased that his son Jim followed in his professional footsteps and is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine. He is also survived by his sister Natalie Truesdale of St. Petersburg, Fla. in addition to sister- and-brother-in-law Anne and Peter Barry, nephews Michael (Kate) and Ryan (Julia) Barry, and four great-nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life and requiem Catholic Mass will be held in honor of both Dudley and Kathy Ferrari at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Naples, Fla. on February 24, 2024 at 12:00 pm, followed by a reception. The Mass will be live streamed at https://sjecc.org/funeral-mass/. Memorial donations in his name may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society and Meals on Wheels. Written condolences may be sent to the family at 111 Barriedale Circle, Cary, NC 27519.