My first real introduction to Judy Ferrante was at the bridge table. And that is how I landed on Sylvest Road, at her lovely home where a group of twelve played bridge many a Monday. I had known most all the players, or their family, pretty much all my life. That's how it goes in Franklinton, but I was missing familiarity with the Ferrantes.
Fortunately for Franklinton, they realized what famous poet Christina Rossetti once wrote, "One day in the country is worth a month in town." Purchasing picturesque property in Washington Parish in 1984, Judy and her husband Dr. William "Bill" Anthony Ferrante built a house on the spectacular, bucolic setting some ten years later, in 1995. Then, in 2004 they relocated from the south shore, moving to the country, during what was a tricky time for me-- - after my father died and while my elderly mother was with us in Mandeville. Raising my school-age daughter and taking care of Momma, I didn't meet Judy until my mother was gone and my daughter had left the nest. But it's true what they say - it's never too late. Right away, my friend Judy and I clicked.
Then there were four - Dianne Green, Pat Berthelot, Judy Ferrante, and me - bridge ladies, that is. Plus friend Gayle Foret who sometimes joined in the merriment.
Digressing, our foursome continues to make the most of Mondays and most recently Tuesdays. It is not only the bridge but the friendship that is formidable. Judy is charismatic and fun as all who know her will attest. And she is faithful, to God and her beautiful family and devoted friends. I count myself lucky to be among them. If I need advice, I ask her. And sometimes I don't even have to ask. I like that about Judy. Almost thirty years my senior, she captured my attention and my heart.
And then she introduced me to her beloved husband Dr. Bill, a native of the tiny town of Melville in South Louisiana. He was a prince of a man and a great card player, in his own right.
It was a fellow by the name of John Leonard who said, "It takes a long time to grow an old friend." But Mr. Leonard never met the Ferrantes. It came as absolutely no surprise to learn that my dear friend, and mentor, Sally Babington Knight introduced them to Franklinton. A perfect fit for the Ferrantes.
Not too many years ago, my husband and I were thrilled to join in celebrating Judy and Dr. Bill's 60th anniversary at the home of close friends Dianne and Johnny Green. That magical evening, which seems like yesterday, the Ferrantes' network of friends gathered. Accompanied on piano, Dr. Bill sang "Crazy" (Willie Nelson and Patsy Cline) to everyone's delight. Felicity all around. Rodney and I, nearing our 35th, were galvanized. Dr. Bill and Judy Ferrante were role models.
When they discovered our daughter and son-in-law were at Tulane University School of Medicine, it was the icing on the cake. The Ferrantes focused on Betsy and Erik, their medical education and pathway at Tulane University School of Medicine, for Dr. Bill and Judy had been down that very same road years ago. A graduate of Tulane University and a 1959 graduate of Tulane University School of Medicine, Dr. Bill did his residency in Internal Medicine, finishing in 1962. Betsy followed in his footsteps, nearly sixty years later.
Dr. Bill completed his fellowship in Gastroenterology in 1963 at Ochsner Foundation Hospital. Practicing twenty-nine years at Ochsner, he served as Department Chair of Gastroenterology for twenty-five of them, training a legion of gastroenterologists and saving a vast number of lives. Dr. Bill also was the Department Chair of Gastroenterology at Baptist Hospital for eight years and the Head of Training at the LSU School of Medicine for twelve. In addition, he was a Professor of Clinical Medicine at LSU School of Medicine, for forty-three years, and at Tulane School of Medicine, for twenty-five years. And he continued to contribute to healthcare after the Ferrantes' move to Franklinton where he served on the Board of Commissioners of Riverside Medical Center.
So, it stood to reason that as a renowned physician and brilliant educator Dr. Bill would be naturally interested in young doctors. It was mere months ago, in the autumn, that dear friends Dianne and Johnny Green; Pat and Dr. Libeau Berthelot; Judy and Dr. Bill Ferrante; and Rodney and I went out to dinner at Tchefuncte's - a stellar evening. Once seated, Dr. Bill promptly began his inquiry about Betsy and Erik. The Tulane tie-in was surely a factor, that and friendship. After our update on their whereabouts and training, he commiserated about the present (training is tough) and ruminated about our daughter and son-in-law's future in medicine.
And we talked about money - young doctors' lack thereof. Betsy is moonlighting in the ICU to make ends meet in Massachusetts exactly as Dr. Bill did some sixty years ago in South Louisiana. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
What tickled Rodney and me was Dr. Bill's wit and persistence. Each time the topic of conversation at the table naturally gravitated to another, more interesting topic, Dr. Bill would steer it back to Betsy and Erik, and medicine. At age eighty-eight, he was genuinely interested, and he made certain that we knew it. He exuded kindness. Those who knew the late Bill Ferrante know that is an understatement.
•Stay tuned for next week's continued remembrance of Dr. Bill Ferrante.
