A beloved Case Western Reserve employee for more than three decades, Carolyn Patricia “Pat” Ferry died late in 2021 at the age of 92.
Yet her legacy of kindness will continue to benefit generations on this campus.
Before her passing, Ferry made a $2 million estate commitment to support the efforts of the Social Justice Law Center and the Law-Medicine Center—both at the School of Law.
Perry’s generosity came as little surprise to Jennifer Hawkins, her former university colleague and long-time friend. If Perry had a motto, Hawkins explained, it would have consisted of three words: “Live life giving.”
The two met when both worked at the university’s medical school, and remained connected even as their professional paths diverged. After a stint at the Cleveland Hearing and Speech Center, Ferry returned to the university, this time serving as administrative assistant to law school dean Lindsey Cowen. Their collaboration held so much meaning that Ferry’s most recent gift to the Law Medicine Center supports a 2002 research fellowship that she established in Cowen’s name.
Ferry’s philanthropy extended beyond Case Western Reserve. Managing a foundation created by her parents, she allocated support to charitable and educational trusts—especially those that benefited people in underserved communities.
“She was one of these people who was silent about her charitable giving, but her giving was very impactful,” recalled William Culbertson, a longtime advisor and friend. “One of the sweetest, dearest, most generous people I’ve known. Someone you’d be proud to have as a friend.”
Originally published in the summer 2023 issue of Forward Thinking magazine