Funeral Plans

by admin on July 8, 2010

Michael and Theresa

In loving memory of Michael Ferguson and Theresa Renz.

Michael and Theresa were a couple very much in love. We honor them and their love for each other at this funeral Mass.

Monday Funeral Mass

2 PM, Monday, July 12, 2010
The Church of St. Paul the Apostle
60th St. and Columbus Ave, New York, NY (also listed as 415 West 59th Street at Columbus Avenue)

Memorial Gathering to follow at the Princeton Club (15 W 43rd St., between 5 and 6th Ave)

Donations: In lieu of flowers for Michael and Theresa: Fresh Air Fund. Please note on your donation that it is in memory of Michael & Theresa along with your name and address and the Ferguson and Renz families will be notified of your donation.

{ 27 comments… read them below or add one }

Jay Kirby July 8, 2010 at 3:06 pm

My prayers go out to all the Furguson, Renz and Smith family members grieving the loss of Michael, Theresa and Maggie. Please take some solace in the knowledge that they had such positive impacts on so many.

Whenever I was at Highlands and I saw Michael and his lovely wife, Theresa, it made my time on the land I hold dear even richer. When our stays there overlapped, Michael always greeted me (and all the Kirbys) with a special warmth and the promise of shared work and laughs, and later beers around a fire.

Even though it has been decades since I joined Michael in a fall hunt, he never stopped putting out the invitation. That joy in camaraderie and eternal optimism epitomize Michael to me. I wish I had another chance to join him. I’ll think of Michael and Theresa always in the Highlands, the place I’m sure they loved best.

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Lauren and Andy Kaiser July 8, 2010 at 7:11 pm

Words have little meaning when horrible loss is upon us. Our thoughts and prayers are with Michael and Theresa, their friends and family too. Be strong, keep breathing and have faith that there are things we do not yet know..

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Kim Turner July 8, 2010 at 9:21 pm

I am overwhelmed with the news of your brother Michael, his beautiful wife Theresa, and your stepmother Margaret.
Please know that you, your families and all those who hold them dear are in my thoughts and prayers.

With love,
Kim (Brennan)
HC ‘80

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Dean Monroe July 8, 2010 at 10:10 pm

To my dear friends Michael, Theresa and Maggie, who I love and miss very much:

My Mountain Home by John Bird Burnham

My heart is in the Highlands,
And though my sembalnce works
Inside four walls of brick and stone,
The soul within my shirks.

My heart is in the Highlands,
My thoughts are far away
From written words and printed page
And all that people say.

From city sound and city sight,
From ruck of men that strive,
From those that pull the groaning load,
From those that grimly drive.

Far from the haunts of strife and greed
My spirit rests today
Among the lichened mountain tops
Above a sun kissed bay.

I see the white gulls’ lazy flight,
The white boats sailing by,
The white clouds floating in between
The blue of lake and sky.

Ah me, the body is enslaved –
But never gaol of stone
Imprisoned keeps this soul of mine,
The spirit gains its own!

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Heather Hewitt Main July 9, 2010 at 12:30 am

I am heartbroken by this news, and all the Fergusons are in my prayers. Michael was a gentle and loving soul – I could see it in him when we were kids and I could see it in him as an adult. When he and Theresa took stewardship of the cabin in 2001 he became a part of our family. There could not have been a better person to love that cabin. I will miss him enormously.

Sending love and payers

Heather

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Bert & Kathy Bertrand July 9, 2010 at 11:25 am

We are absolutely heartbroken with the loss of Maggie, Michael & Theresa. Our loving thoughts & prayers are with Matt & all of the Ferguson, Renz & Smith families. Words cannot express the positive effects that these three wonderful human beings had on us & everyone & everything around them. We watched Michael grow up here at Highlands & we were excited when he became a full partner. Then especially happy for him when he married Theresa. They truly seemed to complete each other. Maggie’s garden is lovely & will be a reminder of her & her amazing energy. We will miss them all dearly.

With loving thoughts & prayers,

Bert & Kathy Bertrand

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Donna Mckeown July 9, 2010 at 2:18 pm

My dear friend Theresa, a lovely and lively spirit that will dreadfully will be missed. What a sweet and kind angel your are. Your love for life and for you Husband Michael was always so inspiring. This tragedy is heartbreaking to all that have known you. My prayers are with your family and dear friends……..May peace be withen you all.
My deepest sympathies,
Donna McKeown

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Katrina and Andy Mulvihill July 9, 2010 at 3:08 pm

We had the privilege to have shared some wonderful family gatherings with the Fergusons and have come to love and cherish Maggie, Michael, and Theresa. Our thoughts and prayers are with them and their families in this difficult time.

All our love,
Katrina and Andy

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Michelle Callahan July 9, 2010 at 5:01 pm

Terry and Matt:

I am so sorry for the news of the loss of Michael John, Teresa and Maggie. My thoughts and prayers are with you both and your family.

All my love,
Michi

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Michael & Allison Porter July 9, 2010 at 6:11 pm

Andy & Cathy,

We are deeply saddened with the heartbreaking news of your brother Michael John, his wife Theresa and your step-mother Margaret. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and all of your family at this difficult time.

With Love,

Michael & Allison

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Sidney Monroe Family July 9, 2010 at 7:50 pm

Dear Fergusons and Renz Family:

Definitions of friendship can vary. Some may be brief; very few may be as meanigful and lasting as our friendship with the Ferguson family, thier spouses and extended family. As a young boy I enjoyed a very special friendship with the entire Ferguson family, and we all grew up

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Sidney Monroe Family July 9, 2010 at 8:33 pm

Dear Fergusons and Renz Family:
Definitions of friendship can vary. Some may be brief; very few may be as meaningful and lasting as our friendship with the Ferguson family, your spouses and extended family. As a young boy I enjoyed a very special friendship with the entire Ferguson family, and we all grew up we enjoyed so many great times and lasting memories together. As we became older, our paths crossed less frequently but at every meeting warm memories quickly brought us current as we celebrated our lives’ milestones. In recent years, generations came together and my children always looked forward to the time at Highlands with the Fergusons.
Maggie, Michael, and Theresa were outstanding individuals; each extraordinary in their own right. Words cannot begin to express our shock, sadness, and sorrow for the Ferguson and Renz Family. Our thoughts and prayers are with each of you.

Sid, Michelle, Veronica, and Henry

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Josh Botkin July 11, 2010 at 7:37 am

When life gives you a hundred reasons to cry, show life that you have a thousand reasons to smile.

Please remember all the good that was brought by the ones we lost and please smile in remembrance.

I will forever miss you.

All of my love,

Josh Botkin

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Jean-Francois Brault July 12, 2010 at 1:49 am

To the families of Maggie, Theresa and Michael — I want to give my deepest condolances.

I got to know Michael through business about twenty years ago just as he was starting his professional life. Sharing many common values , we became friends right away and I had the privilege to watch him evolve over the ensuing years. He was a person of great kindness and character. He took his time to make important decisions, as with his marriage to Theresa, and as a result made very few mistakes.

He was always extremely generous with his time and energy and of a rare reliability that made him one of my most trusted friends, within and outside of our work lives. I especially appreciated his advice as he was not someone full of certainties but rather someone who knew so well that life continuously offers so many options to choose from. His world was not of black and white but made of many shades of gray.

Even when our career paths diverged, we remained friends — calling each other for help or just to keep in touch. We had our rituals about meeting and yet Michael’s easy spontaneity made it easy to see him on very short notice. I always tried to catch up with him every year on his June 6 birthday, easy for me to remember because of it’s “D-day” signficance for me (I’m from Normandy) and because 6-6-66 always stuck in my mind. He often jokingly called himself “the devil” to make fun of his own numerology.

Each and every time that we met, we did as if there would be a thousand more times. I am sorry I did not get the chance to say good bye. The suddenness of the loss is shocking to me as it must be to everyone involved in this tragedy. But I take great comfort in knowing that he was happy, that his marriage was a great success, and that he lived the life he wanted to live.

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Loren Monroe July 12, 2010 at 2:08 am

To the families of Maggie, Theresa and Michael:

I was privelaged to grow up with Michael John: He was a close friend and someone I looked up to–as I did with all the Ferguson boys. Whether it was celebrating Christmas Eve at 11th street, fishing on Warm Pond or sharing a sauna with a group of friends, Michael was a gentle soul whose laugh always made me smile. Theresa was very kind to me and every friend of Michael’s that she met. They showed me that it is the simple things in life, like riding bikes together or sitting next to a fire with the one you love, that are the most important to cherish.

Maggie seemed to be smiling whenever I saw her. She always took time to ask about my children and my parents. Just as important, she listened to my answers and was interested.

It is hard for me to comprehend why God chose this path for three such vibrant people each of whom had many years of happiness ahead of them to share with others. But I try to take comfort in knowing that Heaven has become an even more wonderful place with them there. Thank you Michael, Theresa and Maggie for every wonderful moment we shared together. As I expect you did for countless others, you made my small world a better place.

Love,

Loren

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Lili Hussey July 12, 2010 at 2:38 pm

Mike and I started at Banque Paribas a few years apart. I was the new kid on the financing side and he was the new kid on the trading side of the Commodities business. After an 8-year hiatus, I returned to BNPP in a new role outside Commodities, and Mike welcomed me back as if I had never left. No fanfare, just quiet acknowledgement that I he knew I was back.

Periodically, when I work in the New York office I sit across from the Futures team. Whenever I was there, Mike would make sure to acknowledge my presence and make me feel part of the team, even though I was an outsider. This usually happened at the end of the day, market closed, pressure off, the Futures team reaching its most colorful. Mike would start with the jokes, building up to the zinger of the day. After he delivered the last punch-line, there would be a very long pause. The sudden silence from the Futures desk would get my attention, and I would look up to see Mike looking at me out of the corner of his eye. He was waiting for my retort or, in the rare case of an off-color joke, my confirmation that I was not completely offended.

Over the past couple of years that I have had the privilege to experience Mike’s management style. He built up a great sense of camaraderie among the team, and made sure, not matter how much pressure everyone was under, the day ended on a light note. Everyone left work at the office and headed home with a smile, or in Hardy’s case started the day with a smile.

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Edie Sonne Hall July 12, 2010 at 3:34 pm

Our hearts are filled with sadness over the loss of Maggie, Theresa and Michael.

Although I was much younger than the Ferguson clan growing up on Warm Pond, we are all part of the same Highlands family, which is a bond that can never be broken. In recent years I have so looked forward to seeing Michael, Theresa and Maggie up at Highlands and finding out from Michael what work projects were on the docket. Michael’s contribution and dedication to Highlands can never be matched and will never be forgotten.

Please know that they have certainly left the world a better place, especially our special corner of the Adirondacks.

Edie, Brian, Barty, Noli and Alder Hall

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Lars Kry July 12, 2010 at 3:40 pm

We must celebrate the laughter and joy that Michael, Theresa and Maggie brought to us all. Yesterday evening after Grady’s flight got in, we immediately went up to Matt’s Bar & Grill to see some of Mike’s boys. Although it was a somber mood, after a little while we all took part in a gentle and not so gentle ribbing of Mike. What was apparent to me is that his spirit was in the room. It was wonderful to feel his presence all around us. Mike you will be sorely missed by the boys in the bar last night and countless others, but it is important for you to know how much you meant to us.

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Lisa Kry Levenson July 12, 2010 at 4:08 pm

Mike and Theresa represent the best humanity has to offer. Kind, loving, generous, thoughtful and loyal. They were enormous pillars of strength for our family when Lars was in the hospital a few years ago. They literally offered their shoulders for Lars’s family to cry on. They always asked what they could do and took care of it. In our darkest days of his recovery they provided comfort, warmth and love. They helped us get through our nightmare. They will forever be in our hearts.

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Andrew Bertrand July 12, 2010 at 4:45 pm

To the Ferguson and Renz families I wish to extend my deepest condolences and prayers.
Having grown up at the Highlands, I was always very happy to see the Fergusons. Each time I saw Michael, Matt, or any of the Fergusons, we quickly found ourselves engaged in discussions surrounding fishing, hunting, or our general love for the outdoors. As a teenager, I always looked forward to the fall, for that meant the Fergusons would be up for hunting season. It was never about the actual deer as much as it was the time spent with Matt and the boys. Michael was always so charismatic and just had a way of filling a room, even if that room was acres and acres of snow covered hillsides.
On Sunday morning, July the 4th, I had a brief conversation with Maggie. She was heading in from fishing with Matt, when she saw me fishing from the shore. She asked about how my luck had been, and what type of bait I was using. As simple as this exchange may seem, it was the impression she left on me that is of such importance. I remember thinking to myself how funny it was that here was such an accomplished Dr., with so many titles and positions, and I’m talking to her about bait! I bet there are thousands of people out there that have walked away from an encounter with her and shared my smile.
It is at times like this that we question faith, paths, and purpose. Having been in the military and lost friends and family members, I too have struggled with my faith. I believe the Lord takes us when he believes we have earned it. There is no doubt in my mind that in regards to making the world a better place, these three wonderful human beings went above and beyond. I like to think, the Lord felt they had earned it. Tragedy is leaving this earth without having enriched the lives of your friends and loved ones, or made a difference in the world, anyone who knew Michael, Maggie, or Theresa knows that this is not the case.

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Emily Robinson July 12, 2010 at 8:35 pm

Terry,
We love you.

Emily & Heather

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Joe Whelan July 13, 2010 at 2:46 pm

When you walk in the Highland woods
know, with clarity, that Michael is with you.

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Margaret Stevens Grossman July 13, 2010 at 10:25 pm

It seems Mike has been around our family for much of his life. First as part of a group of naughty, young boys of which my son Lars was one, and when we were living on 12th Street which meant, of course, that Mike was often in our apartment. But what has been so incredibly special about Mike and Theresa is the difference they made in my life after Lars had his terrible accident and lay in a coma for over a month. Mike was always there for me as well as for Lars, bringing me soup and helping me with tech problems. He offered his car, he offered his time and he offered constant support which I was very much in need . And Theresa did no less. They were always only a phone call away. So often I would find Theresa at the hospital at Lars’ bedside, late in the evening after a long days work, applying ice packs or speaking to him in a soothing and loving voice. I shall never never forget. Nor will I forget their joyous wedding and how perfect I thought there were for each other.
Michael and Theresa you will always have a very special place in my heart.
Margaret Stevens Grossman

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Brian Owens July 15, 2010 at 1:10 pm

For my family and me living overseas, Michael and his family were a constant point of contact–and a welcoming haven– for us when we came through New York. I will always remember the bright, warm personality of Michael, who reminded me of my own brother. Our hearts goes out to Matt and the the entire Ferguson and Renz families for their tremendous loss.

Sean, Julian and Brian Owens

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Catherine Chang August 2, 2010 at 5:48 pm

Dear Theresa,

I cann’t believed its truth…so sorrow, my dear.

Catherine

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Tom Walsh September 29, 2010 at 6:24 pm

I’ve come here a hundred times hoping to be able to find the appropriate words to express my sadness about the loss of Mike and Theresa and my sympathy for my dear friends Timmy, Doc , Mary , the rest of the Ferguson and the Renz family.

They were a wonderful couple whose loss will be felt for years to come. I feel lucky to have known them and so sad to lose them.

I remember Mike’s young face when Timmy introduced us to his home and family. Though Mike wasn’t my little brother in a sense he was an “everyman” of little brothers.
He seemed to continue this roll for the 2 years we overlapped at Providence College. Mischievous Mike always a smile…

I saw Mike on and off for the next many years. Still the little brother…I called him about 15 years ago to see if he wanted hunt for a few days in the Highlands because I knew the Fergusons had done this before as a family and I had hunted with Timmy once before on an odd weekend.

This became an annual event the last many years with a rotation of new and old faces. Objective one was a deer. Objective two was a few laughs. Lifetime memories were created and friendships deepened.

When Theresa entered Mikes life it was a perfect fit. She was wonderful and what a great sense of humor. They laughed together and clearly made each other happy.

So sad my friends, to see you go…

Tom Walsh

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Grace Ferguson December 15, 2010 at 2:07 am

Dear Ferguson, Smith, and Renz family.
we have gone through so much with the death of Michael and Theresa. They were such a great couple. I bet they are looking down at us and wanting us to live the life you can. When I feel sad about them, I always look at the glass half full on there lives. That is what they probably want us to do. I also feel the pain because they were my aunt and uncle. I miss them terribly, but I know that they are in my heart.
xoxo-Grace Ferguson

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