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Above, 'Mr. Ferrari" from the 1987 FHS Oskey Yearbook. Ferrari's obituary appeared in yesterday's Observer.
By James C. Johnston Jr.
As Abraham Lincoln once said, “No man stands so tall as when he stoops to help a child.” In that regard, no man was ever taller than long-time Franklin educator Joe Ferrari. Franklin High School was truly blessed by the presence of a really great human being on her faculty for more than three decades, Joseph J Ferrari. He was not only a teacher, Joe was a force of nature, and Joe Ferrari was very much a Renaissance Man in the very best meaning of the phrase. I do not toss this compliment to him in a casual way. It is a title that he earned. Joe was a thinker of some real consequence, and he was a lover of humanity. Joe loved his students, respected his colleagues, and was in every respect a thorough-going professional. He was a man of depths, and a man who loved life and all that it had to offer.
Joe was unafraid of hard work. He was fearless when defending the rights of others, and he had an affability that was positively infectious. His laughter was easy and honest, as he was honest. What the world saw in Joe is what there was. He was open and refreshingly unpretentious, and had the easy ability to “Goof on Himself” with self-deprecating humor. For all of these reasons, plus a wealth of knowledge, his students loved him.
To meet Joe for the first time was a pleasant experience, and instinctively one knew that there was something of real significance in his very being. This unassuming short guy with a rather slight build was really a dynamo of energy and giant of a natural negotiator. Joe Ferrari was in every respect a remarkable man who loved his family which seem to include all of mankind.
There are far too few guys like Joe Ferrari in this world willing to take-on the Powers-that-be for the greater good of the community. Joe was a man of real courage and conviction. Joe and I did not always agree in our respective philosophies, but I respected his well thought-out arguments. His intellect was understated, and it was gigantic at the same time. His advice was always private, quiet, well-reasoned and very sound, and I am happy to say that I benefited from his words of real wisdom spoken to me very quietly in private.
Joe was a natural leader who instinctively knew just how to approach various situations with decisive action and with delicacy when that was what the occasion demanded. Joe knew how to talk to young people in a way that was both gentle and firm. Joe could recognize strength in others and help focus that strength to serve the needs of the common good. He was a natural leader of real ability.
Joe Ferrari was a very decent man who embodied all the best characteristics of what a truly great educator should be. He possessed real modesty, a sometimes-not-so-quiet-charisma-and a pure joy of living in every aspect of his life as: a son, a husband, a father, a grandfather, an out-doors-guy on a ski slope, a philosopher-king in a classroom, a leader of his peers in a professional situation, or just a good decent human being and friend. I hope to see his like again, because he was one of those quiet, and at times, not so-quiet heroes of civilization.
