STUART, Fla. – Rita Jean Fergus died peacefully Aug. 16, 2005, after a long illness in Stuart, Fla. She was able to remain in her home with the help of her care givers, Pinkie Lozano and Jackie Adlington. She was born Feb. 4, 1920, in Norwich, N.Y. She became a psychiatric registered nurse at Binghamton State Hospital where she met and married her husband psychiatrist, Andrew Fergus, M.D. Nov. 14, 1942. She helped her husband develop his practice of psychiatry in Bangor in the 1950’s, working as his nurse as well as his receptionist while raising two sons and a daughter. She was a member of the parent teachers association and was an active supporter of her children’s education. She was president and later vice president of the women’s auxiliary of the Penobscot County Medical Association. When the March of Dimes in the 1950’s ran a statewide campaign to eliminate polio, Rita was the local chairman of women’s activities in Bangor for that campaign. She also was chairman of the Guild of St. John’s Episcopal Church and chairman of the women’s committee of the Bangor Symphony Orchestra. Together with her husband Andrew they were co-chairmen of the Down East Bridge Club where their playful banter over the game was always a source of amusement. Rita is survived by her son, Peter, a cardiologist in Green Bay, Wis., with his wife, Katherine; her son, Paul, an internist in Waltham, Mass., with his wife, Nancy; her daughter, Patricia VanLeuvan, a career consultant in Tucson, Ariz., with her husband, William; six grandsons, Scott, Mark and Todd from Green Bay; Andrew and Jeffrey from Waltham; and Paul Eastwick from Chicago. She is also survived by three great-granddaughters, Mikenzy Grace, Thea Katherine and Sophia Katherine. The family is indebted to Hospice of Treasure Coast nurses and staff for their attentive care of Rita in her final days and to her friends and helpers in Stuart who provided so much support and assistance over the past two decades following Andrew’s death.
RITA JEAN FERGUS
