John F. Ferry, Jr., M.D.

New Iberia- A Memorial Mass for John Francis Ferry II, 95, will be held at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in New Iberia, Louisiana, on Saturday, August 22, at 1:00 p.m. with Father Landry officiating.

Dr. John Francis Ferry II (Dr. Jack) passed away on August 14th at the age of 95, a remarkable man, a pillar of the medical community, and the heart of a loving family of five children, six grandchildren, one great grandchild, and his wife, Elaine. He started life in the Bronx, the son of John F. Ferry, Sr. of Allentown, and Ingrid Hammer Ferry, a native of Norway. He attended Mount St. Michael Preparatory School, Manhattan College and earned his M.D. from New York University Medical School in New York City. He acquired an internship at Charity Hospital in New Orleans, where he met Patricia, his future wife and mother of his children. They had a happy marriage and were blessed with five beautiful children: Judith, Michael (Kathryn), John, Thomas and Patrick (Christi). Dr. Jack served as a Captain in the Air Force (Flight Surgeon) and subsequently pursued a career in ophthalmology in Louisiana at Ochsner Clinic, where he cared for many patients. On inquiry, Dr. Jack learned that there were no ophthalmologists practicing over a broad geographic area north of Lake Pontchartrain, so he courageously left Ochsner Clinic and set out on his own, setting up a solo practice in Covington, LA with his wife Patricia. In his later years, Dr. Jack made multiple charitable trips to treat patients in Nicaragua.

After his wife Patricia passed, Dr. Jack met another petite Southern belle, Elaine Palumbo. They married and relocated to Elaine’s hometown of New Iberia. He adored Elaine’s cooking and her dancing skills. He is survived by his beloved wife Elaine and her three children: Suzette (John, deceased), and their children, Whitney and Ben (Sasha); Sam (Anna); and Lizanne (Mike), and their three children, Michael, Patrick and Gabriel.

Dr. Jack was an affectionate grandfather to his six grandchildren, Drew, Cindy, Maddie (Andrew), Debbie (Kevin), Thomas and Christian; and one great-granddaughter, Anna. He stated with pride that Anna was the little girl who made him great.

Dr. Ferry spent a great deal of his free time reading; he always had a book in his hands. He was a talented painter. He especially admired popular cartoonists like Walt Disney and Charles Schultz. He made many a painting depicting Disney and Peanuts characters. He even created a Cajun food pyramid, with a bottle of Tabasco sauce at its apex. He was a dedicated golfer over a period of decades, and every week he would announce that he had perfected a new swing and that would give Tiger Woods (in his heyday) a run for his money. He spent his twilight years as a happy resident of Azalea Estates in New Iberia.

Dr. Ferry was an outstanding, hard-working, generous, intelligent man who set a good example for his family. He was a loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend. His good humor, positive outlook and easy-going manner made him many friends wherever he went. Dr. Jack’s friends and family will all miss him very much.

Dr. Jack requested that in lieu of flowers, please consider donating to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Frioux Funeral Home of New Iberia, 1101 Trotter Street, 337-369-6336, will be handling the arrangements.