Thomas Arthur Ferkovich

THE PATRIARCH OF THE FERKOVICH FAMILY HAS PASSED {A letter I prepared on Dec 10th 2018} Farewell Tommy, I will think of you from time to time and have. I understood and appreciated your cool image back in the day. Your red late 60’s Chevy was a standout car amongst the other muscle cars in the local area. Although you had many cool cars throughout your time. I think that Art and others looked up to you and wanted to be like you. You raised the bar in coolness and they tried to get there on their own but never quite getting there themselves, although getting three quarters towards you is a good distance as well. I will always think of you when I hear CCR’s version of Hello Mary Lou. Why? I think I remember hearing it a lot driving around in your car. You were a physically strong man, even when I was in my prime your power overpowered mine. You, Art and my Dad obviously got me into the guitar which was a huge part of my life. I later became a guitar instructor and developed my own guitar teaching system. Once in a while I will talk like you and Art {in that Italian style cool slang} to my friends to throw them off and to revisit that way of speaking. You were naturally funny and made me laugh many times. It was your take on things that really got to me. I remember in South Range one firework went off and we didn’t hear anything afterwards and you said that they only had a $25.00 budget for fireworks that year. Hilarious.  I was rolling.  But there was tons of stuff like that that were equally as clever. Not being a Ferkovich I had to stand on the side lines but regardless I did see how the others that carry your name all loved and respected you. I said earlier that you are the Patriarch of the family, well that is true. Not a bad title and reputation to have. You are going into the great unknown before us and I am sure that is scary but perhaps it is to see if it is safe for the rest of us something a leader would do. They say that one dies twice, once physically and once when the last person speaks your name. I think that people will speak of you for a long time to come. If you have the energy watch a movie called Meet Joe Black. Peace be with you! Your brother Craig M. Hand