John Dunn Ferguson

John Dunn Ferguson, 81, of Catonsville, Maryland, passed away peacefully on September 16, 2021, accompanied by dear friends and family.  John is survived by his beloved wife, Terry Miller Ferguson, his daughters, Jean, Rebecca, Sarah, and Evelyon and by his four grandchildren, Kate, Thomas, Casey, and Lilly. John was predeceased by his older brother, Bill, in 2016.

John was born in Kingston, New York on November 22, 1939, the second son of Evelyon and William Ferguson. The family soon moved to Chicago where John graduated from Fenwick High School.  John had a love of playing football for the Fenwick Friars team and continued playing through his 20s during his tenure in the US Army.

While earning his bachelor’s degree from The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts he took part in a fine art elective and discovered his passion for painting. Before he could continue his studies however, Uncle Sam requested his presence in the U.S. Army. After his honorable service in Germany, John returned to the United States in 1963 and began his art education with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Illinois, Chicago.  Later, he honed his interest and skills as a sculptor, earning his Master of Fine Arts from the Maryland Institute, College of Art, Rinehart School of Sculpture in 1971. John’s art now resides not only in and around the homes of notable Baltimoreans, but at numerous regional public and private facilities, including the BWI Airport, the Hirschhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden at the Smithsonian, Towson University, Goucher College, various Rouse properties in the Baltimore metro area, and Academy Art Museum in Easton, MD.  The pinnacle of his career was his One Man Show at the Phillips Collection in Washington, DC.

Baltimore became John’s home in 1969. The city, and the people living in it, inspired John. He made friends easily and forever and enjoyed many pastimes like Orioles baseball and sailing on the Chesapeake Bay. From those he met at MICA, to his neighbors at his Baltimore Art Station North art studio, John sailed easily between being an accomplished, award-winning sculptor, a handyman of some repute with skills more common to a structural engineer, and an instructor of three-dimensional design who was always willing to have a lively discussion of art, sports, jazz music or politics over a pint of good beer.

Twenty-five years ago this week, John reconnected with the love of his life, Terry Miller Ferguson, and they were inseparable ever since. John and Terry married in 2007 and built a beautiful life together which included the love of family, grandchildren and friends who are like family, work and travel.  Trips to the Caribbean, Florida, Canada, Seattle, Hawaii and California were the backdrop of their time together. John and Terry were the yin to each other’s yang, the perfectly sealed lid to the other’s pot. John was always in good hands with his “Miss Miller” and Terry will be sustained by the love of her “Fergie" for all her days.

The next time you encounter a Ferguson tartan plaid, see one of John’s sculptures, have a great lager, hear the Modern Jazz Quartet playing, or see a really good (or really bad) piece of art, take a minute, take it in and think about John sailing wing-on-wing on a cloudless day on the Chesapeake. Nothing would make him happier than to know that he brought that moment to your life.

An Inurnment will take place on Thursday, September 23rd, 2021 at 11:00 am at Baltimore National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please send tribute to The Chesapeake Bay Foundation or T he Special Olympics .