Richard R. Ferrara

A Life Well Built in Brooklyn

A Life Well Built Richard R. Ferrara, AIA Emeritus Richard Robert Ferrara, known to his family and friends as Dick, passed away on Monday, November 21, 2022, at eighty-one years old. He is survived by his wife, Katherine Ferrara; his two daughters, Claudia Ferrara and Francesca Ferrara; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Dick was a fierce cat lover, with ten cats departing before him. He is survived by Thelma, Louise, and his beloved Romeo.

Dick was born to Katherine and Charles Ferrara on May 31, 1941, in Brooklyn and grew up in Bensonhurst. He attended Brooklyn Technical High School and Pratt Institute, where he honed his design skills earning a bachelor’s degree in architecture in 1964. Later in 1974, he also earned a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (Sociology & Psychology) from The New School for Social Research.

On Good Friday of 1961, he and Kathy went on their first date. They went to see a screening of The Misfits and have been together ever since. They married in 1964 and bought a brownstone in Park Slope in 1969, which, at the time was over one hundred years old. They sold their much-loved Austin Healey for $2,000 to cover the down payment on their forever home. During these early years of marriage, Dick served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a First Lieutenant from 1964 to 1973 in Fort Knox, Kentucky and Korat, Thailand.

Dick became a registered architect in 1969 and worked for his first mentor, Giorgio Cavaglieri, a leading figure in the historic preservationist movement in New York City. It was while working for his next important mentor, Bill Hall, that Dick met his future lifelong partner, Willis “Wids” S. DeLaCour, Jr. Wids and Dick began DeLaCour & Ferrara, Architects, P.C. in 1987, housed in the historic neighborhood of Brooklyn Heights. Now known as DeLaCour, Ferrara & Church, Architects, P.C., the firm is led by their talented protégé, Kenneth Church, and continues with the mission of enriching New York City communities by designing creative housing for not-for-profit organizations that provide services to the needy.

Dick’s expertise was in historically based projects, which led him to be retained by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission and the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development to provide guidance and design services for buildings located within historic districts. He was also involved with the Y.M.C.A. for approximately thirty-five years, having completed major projects for locations in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx.

He was extremely active in his community, serving as a board member for the American Institute of Architects, Brooklyn Chapter; a member of the New York Society of Architects; chairman of the Historic Building Committee for the American Institute of Architects, New York Chapter; president and trustee of the Park Slope Civic Council; and a member of the Board of Trustees at Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow. Awarded with many citations throughout his life, Dick’s two most notable recognitions were his Lifetime Achievement Award from the Brooklyn Chapter of the AIA in 2012 and his Bard Award for the restoration of the Sylvan Terrace façade in Harlem in 1981.

In addition to restoring the brownstone he bought with Kathy, Dick liked spending summers at his family cottage in North Sea, Long Island, where his pastimes included snapper fishing, canoeing, clamming, gardening, windsurfing, befriending swans, and rescuing turtles. His favorite time of the day was happy hour, when he would sit on the deck with Kathy and the cats, enjoying cocktails and watching the sunset over North Sea Harbor.

Richard “Dick” Ferrara - Services

Visitations for Richard Ferrara will be held Saturday, November 26, 2022 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM and Sunday, November 27, 2022 from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Joseph G. Duffy, 255 Ninth Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215. A mass will occur Monday, November 28, 2022 at 12:00 PM at All Saints' Episcopal Church, 286 7th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11215. A burial service will occur directly following the mass on Monday, November 28, 2022 at 1:30 PM at Green-Wood Cemetery, 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11232.

The Ferrara Family will host a repast after the burial service (approximately 2:30/3:00 PM to 6:00 PM) at the Ferrara Residence, 457 7th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215.

Contributions can be made in Richard’s name to:

American Kidney Foundation: https://www.kidneyfund.org/

K9s for Warriors: https://k9sforwarriors.org/

Brooklyn Botanic Gardens: https://www.bbg.org/

Long Island Pine Barrens Society: https://www.pinebarrens.org/

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.josephgduffy.com for the Ferrara family.