Dear Kelly, Jack and Lindsey,

John was the BEST!  From the first time we met him until the day he died, he was a gentleman with kindness, wit and a heart of gold.  We first met your dad when he and your mom stared dating.  At the time our oldest son, Eric was on your dad's hockey team.  Of course I was the team mom, a job no one seemed to want!  We got to know your dad well having lots of conversations both on and off the ice.  We took many hockey trips with you dad and mom.  One memorable one was at the hotel bar where your mom and dad taught us how to play quarters! (it was a drinking game! imagine that!!!)  None the less we had many good laughs and good times together.  As years passed we came to know that your mom and dad were good friends with the Lackey's.  Missy (as we knew her growing up) and her family have been dear friends of ours since Jay and Lauren were three years old - which is about 35 years!  It truly is a small world.
We are so very sorry your dad's life was so short.  As we said earlier he was the BEST!  In years to come we hope you read over the lovely tributes others have shared about your dad.  Your memories and these written treasures will always make your heart smile.

Love to you all,
Mark and Mary Jo LaBarge


John was my hockey coach for years when I was young. Anytime I think of 'coach' from when I played, John is who always comes to mind. He taught us all a lot of great things and I don't know exactly what to say about what he taught me but I'll share what I'll always remember. As I got older, coaches got harder and harder on their players & John wasn't an exception. I'd had a few rough coaches before and we never got along and my love of the game was never really in the forefront of my mind when I was dealing with any of them. John always told us he was willing to listen if we needed to talk to him about anything so after one grueling practice I took him up on it. Getting yelled at constantly never motivated me and had begun to sap my enjoyment of the sport significantly and I was about ready to hang up my skates because I'd rather not spend my time getting hollered at, the entire experience was too negative for me. John was  surprised and concerned at how much that had begun to effect my love of the game. He told me the way it usually worked was that the coaches would try (often succeeding) to make the players mad in an effort to motivate them to work harder. For whatever reason this was what I needed to hear, I had always thought I just had coaches that were... jerks or (fill in some hockey language here). I continued to play and love playing for years after John was my coach, which I don't think I would have had he not been my coach. John taught me how to let others get the best out of me, how to give my best even under lousy situations, and a lot more that I still don't know how to put into words but I hope this anecdote conveyed some of it. I will never forget my time with John, what he taught me, or who he was to me. 

God bless, God speed, God knows we all miss you, and we will always remember you, Coach. 

I knew John the most in his younger days when he went to college with my son Lester and all the way up until the time he married Kelly and started his own family. The parties, playing volleyball in the back yard and never knowing what the guys might get into next. John will always have a special place in my heart and I am so thankful for all the wonderful memories I have of him.  Hearing the testimonies at John’s funeral confirmed the wonderful man I knew he would become. 

Even though it's been a week since John passed, I am still having a hard time accepting that this incredible guy is no longer with us. Uncle Russ and I have so many wonderful memories of him at the cottage. The end of July is going to be so different.

The main thing that stands out for me is his amazing kind and gentle smile. Every time I would get concerned about something from; " What should be fixed at the cottage , to 'What should we have for dinner"? . John would just put his arm around me , smile  that wonderful  smile, and say, "It's okay, Aunt Kath ". And, of course, it was.

I also remember making my very special spaghetti dinner for your family when y'all arrived at the cottage one summer. After the pasta was done, I had started to rinse it in the sink. Both John AND Jack descended on me and rescued the pasta before I "ruined" it by running it under water. Trust me, I have never rinsed pasta again!

Memories of John enjoying himself at our Williams, Marks, Ferrara family reunion: sitting on the porch at the cottage talking endlessly; watching him join the beach crowd and light up a cigar ; to blowing up the air mattress in the cottage living room before bed. (It's so sad you won't be using the new queen bed this summer.) So many memories, and yet way too few.

LYTTMAB, John. Godspeed
Aunt Kath

I met John at Blues Fantasy Camp quite a few years ago. Our ladies team was lucky enough to get John to skate with us one of the first games. I’ll never forget talking with Him on the bench and asking him if was Frank Ferrara’s son. I had met Frank quite a few times through friends and the positive impact he had on everyone around him was magical. John had the same impact, as evident by how much fun we were had at Camp. 

I appreciate the passion John has for people and the love of hockey. I value the time I spent with John on the ice so much and know he took the torch from his father will continue to have lasting impacts on the hockey community. 

My sympathies to the Ferrara family. 

John continues to be one of the most influential people in my life that I share with my husband, Wade Blackwell.  We cannot count the number of blessings we've received over the years by being friends with him and the Ferrara family.  But the high notes are ones that come readily to mind.  If it weren't for John, I would never have met my husband, Wade.  Wade is my best friend, my partner in life, and the father of my child - all blessings in which would never have come to pass without the persistence and all-knowing wisdom of John.  When Wade and I were too stubborn and bullheaded to realize what was best for us, John was our North Star that brought us back safely to shore.  When we decided to seal the deal and get married, John was there to sanctify our marriage and bless us with his years of advice as a happily married man and father of two gorgeous and spirited children.  When we struggled to get pregnant, John was there to encourage us to persevere, knowing that faith and compassion would ensure our story ended with a miracle.  And low and behold, we welcomed our son Baron Blackwell into the world in 2018.  John and the Ferrara family were able to kiss the face of the child that only existed because of our bond with John.  Although my son will not know our gentle giant the way we were blessed to, it is my mission in life to raise him with the undeniable truth that his guardian angel is looking over him.  We love you John R. Ferrara, Sr.   
-Wade, Missy, & Baron Blackwell

I skated for the Lyons for the first time at an open practice two years ago. Coach John pulled me aside and made me a pitch to join the team. It was not what I was looking for, but I trusted him. He said stay and help us build. He new what I wanted; teammates, support, community and people to drink beer with, even if I didn't know what I wanted. He would always make drills harder for me so I felt challenged and even let me coach. One time I drank too much before a Saturday practice and Coach John made me skate suicides until I sobered up. I did not drink before practice again after that (ish). 

He gave everything and was selfless.  Coach John is the reason why there is women’s hockey in STL. He would bring in professional skating coaches and NHL players to help us learn to skate and stickhandle. It was way overkill for most of us in our 30s 40s and 50s, but because he valued us, we felt worthy and important. He told us he preferred coaching the women’s team because we would actually listen. He would travel hours to be on the bench during our games in Chicago. We were the only team who had a coach, and he would be invested in us, each and every shift like we were pros and the stands were full of scouts recruiting for the women’s USA team. He liked that I played like a big defensemen, but he always kept me in check. At a tournament in Chicago he grabbed me by the back of the jersey and said “Lizzy when its time to turn you loose I will be the first to tell you, but we are playing against 45 year old moms. Take it down a notch.”

I spent 4 years in St. Louis playing for terrible mens team, thinking that I wanted a competitive hockey experience. I was really looking for a home. I found a family with the girls and with Coach John. I met him too late and he left us too soon. I miss him very much.  


John was always so willing to help co-workers(& their family) both at AAA & when I worked with him at Alternatives.  He always gave you his full attention whether you were a co-worker, client or potential client; unless it interfered with hockey.  He always talked about his wife, Kelly , & their kids & was so proud of all of them.  Once you met John, you were his friend forever.  We all lost a great person,  but know his legacy will live on.

John will certainly be missed!  I'll always have memories to remind me of his strong character, will, friendship, respect, and love, especially to his family and his many friends.  May you R.I.P.  I was honored to have shared the Sacraments of Holy Eucharist and Anointing with you.  Your cousin, Father Charlie

OBITUARY

John R. Ferrara, Sr.

April 24, 1965 – March 31, 2019

Hoffmeister Colonial Mortuary

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