George F. Ferrera Jr.

George is survived by his wife of 42 years, Christine (Martinez) Ferrera, 2 children, Anthony Ferrera and Sherry Ann Ferrera, 3 grandchildren, Danielle Ferrera, Lauren Whitlesey-Ferrera, Vincent Ferrera, and 23 nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews. George was the oldest of 6 children: brothers Joseph, Raymond (predeceased), and Frank, sisters Josephine Abroscat, and Dorothy Knight. He is also predeceased by his parents, George Frank Ferrera, Sr., and Dorothy Beatrice Unangst Ferrera.

George attended Bridgewater West High School and was part of the Amazing Class of 1962. To say he enjoyed playing baseball and basketball for the Golden Eagles is an understatement. He was an excellent 2nd baseman and teamed naturally with his shortstop friend and teammate, Don Vallario. On the courts, he was an excellent foul-shooter and constantly tested his abilities by making shots from anywhere on the court. His practices started when he was shooting baskets in the dimly lit back yard of his house. And when his dad said it was time to come inside, he continued to shoot baskets, even in the dark when he turned the light off!

In 1969, George joined the Hillsborough Township Police Department. He served for 25 years and retired in 1994. But his best years on the force were toward the end of his career when he was asked to be a part of the new federal program D.A.R.E (Drug Abuse Resistance Education). It was a privilege to be asked by the Chief to participate in the intensive training with the Virginia State Police in Arlington, VA. George was selected because he was great with kids and could reach them in a way when no one else could. The program concentrated on ‘resisting’ drugs, alcohol, tobacco at the 5th grade level where students were more vulnerable to the temptation and peer pressure. He took great care and time rehearsing his lesson plans and was well-respected by his students and their parents.

In 1997, George and Christine moved to West Palm Beach, Florida as it was part of his life-long dream to live in the state. They enjoyed traveling to islands and beaches and eating at fine restaurants and not-so-fine restaurants. But what he loved most was Christmas! He would invite the family children and neighbors to show the annual Polar Express movie, with hot cocoa, snow (one everyone’s head) and the house cooled to a chilling 65 degrees. George was inviting and easy-going. He had a young-at-heart quality. You could get a flavor of this as he would carry on a conversation or tell stories and how much he loved entertaining the kids.

A memorial service will be held at Quattlebaum Funeral Home, 6411 Parker Ave., West Palm Beach, FL 33405 on Saturday, April 11th, between the hours of 3:00pm through 5:00 pm with a prayer service at 5:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to the American Cancer Society https://raiseyourway.donordrive.com/campaigns/In-Memory-of-George-Ferrera