Nicholas Timothy Ferris

If you knew Nick Ferris, you know he was unique, a blend of his very intellectual mind and his many non-conventual beliefs. He was one of a kind and broke the mold by doing things in a markedly different way. He had a mind like a steel trap. You could always call him up and ask him something and he would remember it and tell you more than you ever needed to know. When he lived in NYC, he learned the subway map and schedule by heart. And if you know the subway system there, you know that this is wildly brilliant.

Born the eldest was a dubious task in his family, but he was up for it and protected, loved, and guided his “MA”, Anna, and 3 siblings, John, Kathy, and Sarah through a rough childhood and lightened it all up with lots of music.

He was born July 26, 1958, a young man during the ’70s when rock n roll was rockin. He went to concert after concert and compiled an epic collection of records. During high school, friends would gather in Nick’s room listening and singing to song after song. The Rolling Stones are his favourite band of all time. His room beat louder than a big brass drum. Alright!

He graduated from McGill and lead an interesting career that took him to New York, Toronto, and Vancouver with business trips to countries that included South Africa, China, Japan, Germany, Spain, and Switzerland. Nick was the Vice President of Treasury and Corporate Banking for Lloyds Bank. He promoted and worked for Canadian Home Income Plan long before it became a household name. He was actively involved as a director and member of the Mortgage Brokers Association of B.C. For many years, Nick held senior positions at a number of gold mining and exploration companies and was integrally involved in a number of start-ups. His work contributions were enduring and meaningful and his work ethic unbeatable.

Nick was kind, loyal, and loving and Bessy, his former wife, knows this probably the best. Forever friends she misses his generous heart, his open and brilliant mind, and his profound sense of decency. She says “if you did or did not know Nick, listen to Tim McGraw’s song, Humble and Kind. These lyrics best personified Nick. There was nothing Nick didn’t know about. He was the smartest and yet most humble person one could ever know.”

Nick was a free thinker, an inspiration to many, many more people than we know. He would draw you into his thoughts and stories and often you were left with your mind spinning trying to process what he said, a tennis match of thoughts and ideas.

He has left centre court and is holding court with his sister, Kathy, and his father, Joe in a happy, peaceful place and will be interned at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery with them soon.

He left us far too soon and while our hearts are breaking, he will be forever remembered and missed.

At the end of the service we will be playing 3 songs:

1. Layla, Derek and the Dominos. Nick took Sarah to the Eric Clapton LOVE concert when she was 14 years old and when they played Layla she thought she had the coolest brother ever. She was standing next to Nick with his long hair, singing along, centre stage a few rows back.

2. Dead Flowers, The Rolling Stones. Nick knew the lyrics to every Rolling Stone’s song and would often sing this song to Bessy when they were first married.

3. My Way, Frank Sinatra. The Ferris kids all grew up listening to Frank because their dad Joe loved him. This was Joe’s favourite song maybe because it’s about living life on your own terms. Below are the lyrics. Please sing along, belt it out, from wherever you are.

THANK YOU!