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Williams College

JOHN FERGUSON Obituary

JOHN H. FERGUSON
Died on December 26, 2017 at age 77. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, he graduated from Williams College and the University of Chicago Law School and then spent his career as a lawyer for the National Labor Relations Board, working on all major labor law issues of the past half century. Still working up to the day of his death, he was the Associate General Counsel, Division of Enforcement Litigation, overseeing attorneys responsible for the Agency's litigation in federal and state courts. Peter Robb, NLRB General Counsel, said, "John was an extraordinary lawyer his 47-year NLRB career is marked by outstanding achievements that reflect his unparalleled intellectual prowess, strategic planning and executive leadership." In recognition of his achievements, he was awarded the President's Meritorious Rank Award and the ABA's Mary C. Lawton Outstanding Government Service Award. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Karen; his sister, Ann Connolly; his son, Andrew and his grandchildren, Cole and Alexa. Services will be private.

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Published by The Washington Post on Dec. 31, 2017.

Memories and Condolences
for JOHN FERGUSON

38 Entries

David lander

December 25, 2021

Our granddaughter is a freshman at university of Chicago and is living in Burton Judson dorm. It Brought back the memory of visiting the Fergusons as they were were house parents at Burton Judson when we were all in law school and John was a dear friend. It activated other wonderful memories about John and what an amazing mind and heart he had.

William Rose

January 25, 2019

As a senior John was President of the Shaker Heights High School (Ohio) student body and greatly admired. I was a sophomore at the time and did not really know him until we were fraternity brothers in Beta Theta Pi at Williams College. He was an exceptionally kind and intelligent person in College and while I lost contact with him, I know he was that wonderful person for the rest of his life. I just learned of John's passing. To his family please accept my belated condolences.

David lander

October 26, 2018

sorry this is do late but i just saw the notice in the Chicago law school publication.
I knew and admired John in law school. A wonderful person and so literate. My sympathy to the family.
david lander

Jeff Starling

March 15, 2018

I saw John regularly at ABA meetings and events and always enjoyed his wit and wisdom. He personified all of the qualities we hope for in our friend, colleagues, and civil servants. My condolences to all of his family.

Denise Clark

March 1, 2018

I had only met John in the last couple of years, having known Karen for many years. In the short time that I knew him, he was funny and kind.
My condolences to Karen and the family.

Kyle Abraham

February 23, 2018

I had the honor of meeting John at the DLL midwinter meeting last year. As a new labor lawyer, John was gracious with his time. He was a class act and a real gentleman. He will be missed this year.

Bill Gould

February 9, 2018

As with so many good friends at the nlrb , the road to John Ferguson went through the late Bill Stewart. They had been close colleagues on the GC side and when I came to Washington in 1994 and was able to convince Bill to be my Chief, I was immediately introduced to a range of Bill's good pals and prominent amongst them was John .Always warm and affable, we would engage one another in lively conversation , usually in Bills office - he , along with Linda Sher,was one of the ready made friends whom I derived from Bill Stewart.
Ironically , subsequent to my departure from Washington , I came to know John much better.When I was finishing a draft of a paper that I was about to deliver as a speech in 2005 or 2006, I wondered with whom I could discuss a particular point on preemption. My mind flashed back to John and when I picked up the telephone that day, this turned out to be one of the first in a series of conversations with him about the Law and life. This past year we corresponded extensively about a number of issues on the cutting edge including the gig economy piece that I was writing and and we discussed the independent contractor- employee divide and preemption issues relating to a new Seattle ordinance.John was so bubbly, quick witted and mirthful There were times when we went back and forth every day and he even wrote me while on vacation- invariably he would send me a raft of cases that he seemed to have in the can from his many briefs and memos.

John was one of the smartest lawyers I ever met - extraordinary analytical abilities and his years of exposure to the judiciary gave him an uncanny sense of what courts were likely to do.His death deprives the Board of not only first rate intellectual ability but also unparalleled institutional memory
Above all else, John was a very good , giving person and a genuine mentor to so many young people . He was very special and a terrible loss for me and of course,his family to whom I again send condolences , the Board and labor bar. I will miss him very much.

Helena Bargholtz

February 4, 2018

My warmest condolences to Karen. We workes together in Ralph Naders office on a project regarding pension legislation. It was great to work with you Karen. Being back in Sweden for many years I often think back at my happy days in Washington

Paula Walsh-Henry

January 30, 2018

As a classmate at Shaker of John's, I admired him and knew he would be successful in whatever field he pursued. God Bless him.

Michael L Hays

January 29, 2018

My condolences to his family. I was good friends with John at Malvern Elementary School, but we went our different ways afterwards. I am not surprised that he had a distinguished career and was an extraordinary person.

January 8, 2018

I am stunned and saddened to learn this morning of John's death. We corresponded frequently over these past 3-4 years about various issues, and at one point I told John how much I regretted not knowing him better when I was at the Board in the 1990s. In all my professional life, I have never encountered someone who had greater breadth and analytical ability. His words just jumped off the page, and he was a very good and giving person as well.
Bill Gould, Stanford, California

Mary and David Metzler

January 7, 2018

Our condolences to John's family. He truly was one of the nicest people I have ever met. Although I never knew him when I worked at the NLRB Regional Office in Pittsburgh, I met him through the DLL Mid-Winter meetings. He was always warm and welcoming to my husband and me. His speeches at the conference were not only informative, but were presented with humor and style. We recently saw him at the College of Labor and Employment Induction Dinner in Washington, DC and he looked great. So very sorry to hear of this sad news and be comforted in knowing that he was admired and deeply respected by many colleagues.

Bernie Jeweler

January 6, 2018

As a colleague at the Board John taught me fine points about appellate advocacy and made me smarter just being around him. I trusted his word and opinion implicitly. Not only a wise and wonderful teacher he was always a good friend
too. I will miss him greatly and am truly honored to have known him.

Raymond Hankins

January 5, 2018

My deepest condolences to the Ferguson family. John was always very supportive of the programs within my office. He wanted all employees to be successful in their jobs at the NLRB. John will be missed.

Cynthia McDaniel

January 4, 2018

Prayers of comfort and peace for the Ferguson family.

Stan Brown

January 4, 2018

John and I worked together in Enforcement from 1969-73 when I left to go to private practice. He was the best to work with, smart and easy going. My condolences to Karen and the rest of the family. People like John made and continue to make the NLRB a great government agency.

Karen Friedman

January 4, 2018

John was truly the loveliest of men. I knew him over 30 years, through Karen Ferguson, and will miss his warmth, wisdom and that wonderful laugh -- not to mention the good advice he always gave.

January 4, 2018

As a management side labor attorney in Detroit, I attended the DLL conference for many years of which John had been an integral part. When I arrived at the conference, I would always seek out John's company. He was not just a friend, but a man worth knowing due to his wisdom and humor. I will miss him.

Robert W. Morgan

Tanja Thompson

January 4, 2018

I will so miss this humble, brilliant, kind man who was a mentor and friend to so many. My condolences to your family.

Much love,

Nicole Cuda Perez

January 4, 2018

I will never forget John's kindness and warmth. It was an honor and a privilege to know him. My deepest condolences.

David Wagoner

January 4, 2018

I met John through committee work in the ABA's Section of Labor and Employment Law. I deeply appreciated his willingness to be a resource to me, a relative neophyte in the Section. My condolences to his family.

John Raudabaugh

January 4, 2018

Thank you John for your dedicated service to the National Labor Relations Board.

Shela Poke-Williams

January 3, 2018

To the Ferguson, I worked with John for many years and he was a pleasure to work with and for. His laughter was always a room breaker, if you wasn't laughing after he laughed something else was wrong. May God continue to bless and hold each of you during your time of mourning. Trust me he will be missed.

Mike Walden

January 3, 2018

From us at NUCPP and all of our Committees across the country, the Ferguson family has our sympathy and prayers to hopefully bring peace, comfort and togetherness in such a devasting loss of a great husband, father and leader in his field. Karen and family, our thoughts and condolences are with you .

David Seddelmeyer

January 2, 2018

My God bless and give John's family peace. The loss of such a loved one is so hard. I worked with and for John for 30 years and knew him as a truly good man. I will miss him as one misses a good, kind and respected older brother. We have lost a shining light.

Allyson Mitchell

January 2, 2018

I was so saddened to hear of John's passing. His smile brightened the halls of the NLRB (I can still hear his laugh), and his knowledge of labor law was unsurpassed. I will miss seeing him in the break room in the evening, as we were both late workers and needed coffee refills. To the family...thank you for sharing John with us. Please accept my heartfelt and sincere condolences. May God's peace surround you and comfort you.

Anne Pomerantz

January 2, 2018

Over the past 25+ years, I had the privilege to work in and tangential to John's orbit. He was the best of us -- kind, gentle, generous of spirit, insightful, dedicated and, above all, brilliant. As others have said, he made us better; he also inspired us to better ourselves. He will be sorely missed. My condolences to his family and my hope that their memories of John bring them some comfort.

Rachel See

January 2, 2018

It was a privilege to work with (and for) John at the NLRB. His incisive comments and questions helped me to be a more-effective advocate. Besides his intellect and wit, John showed genuine interest in my endeavors and much kindness to me personally. He will be missed.

Darlene Haas Awada

January 2, 2018

I last worked directly with John 17 years ago, when I was just beginning my career in labor law. He was brilliant, direct, and witty, and his kindness to me made a life-changing impact. I am not over-stating. His light will be missed in this world. Peace to his family and loved ones.

Laura Bandini

January 1, 2018

I worked on the most exciting cases of my career directly with John. He was pretty much always the smartest person in the room, and learning from him made me a better attorney. He was a heroic and fervent advocate for the agency with outside parties and the truest public servant. He was kind to everyone and made a special point to compliment those who worked for him at every opportunity. I can't imagine the NLRB without him. My condolences to his family for their great loss.

Amy Cocuzza

January 1, 2018

I'm so terribly sorry for John's family. He was brilliant and incisive and generous with his insightsKayce is absolutely right that he made us better. This is such a tremendous loss. He will be missed.

Enid Weber

January 1, 2018

It always was a pleasure working with John. He was caring, brilliant, thoughtful, with laughing eyes. He made a difference.

Matt Fraidin

December 31, 2017

Deepest sympathies, Andrew and Family.

Romans 15:33

December 31, 2017

You have my deepest sympathy. May God give you peace and strength to keep you going during this difficult time.

December 31, 2017

May the God of all Comfort, comfort you and your family in this your time of need.

Kayce Compton

December 31, 2017

John was an incredible lawyer but I'll mostly remember the fact that he always greeted me-and everyone with whom he worked-with a big smile. He was generous with his knowledge, time, and goodwill, and he will be greatly missed. He made us better.

John Mantz

December 31, 2017

A part of my work life for my entire career, a gentle soul, and a great labor lawyer. my sympathies for the family. Rest in peace John.

Anne Lofaso

December 31, 2017

The world has lost a great man. My first reaction to the news was shock and grief. Then I thought, "but I have so many more questions." Then I learned that he said the same thing about Nort Come on his death. John was a teacher, a mentor, a friend, an advocate, and so many other things. I miss him already. There is a deep hole in the labor world and that hole will be impossible to fill.

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