Craig Marlow Ferguson, 88, a lifelong Darien resident, died peacefully on March 28, 2026, from complications related to Parkinson’s Disease. He was surrounded by his wife Linda and three children.
Born in Stamford on September 15, 1937, to James and Jessie Ferguson, Craig was the youngest of three sons. He was predeceased by his parents and his older brothers Bruce Lyons Ferguson and Thomas Donaldson Ferguson, his foster brother Peter Bodick, his nephew Bruce Wayne Ferguson and his nephew’s wife Barbara Ferguson. Craig attended Stamford schools and graduated from Darien High School in 1955 and Colgate University in 1959. Craig began his insurance career with Childs & Wood in Chicago and New York before starting Craig M. Ferguson & Company in the early 1970s in New York. He was known among his clients and employees as an excellent problem solver and a generous and caring business owner. Craig and Linda raised their children in Darien.
Craig had a lot of hobbies and interests. He was an exceptional cook and loved nothing more than cooking at family holidays and gatherings, presenting guests with traditional English dishes. Favorites included standing rib roast, popovers and butter tarts. Craig was also an accomplished pianist and organist, self-taught as a youngster. He learned to play the pipe organ in his youth by dropping by St. John’s Episcopal Church in Stamford after school and learning on the church organ. A real highlight was playing the organ at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. He managed the organ keyboards, pedalboard and stops with ease well into his 70s. Craig loved the natural world and backpacking in the White Mountains of New Hampshire with his children. He was a rosarian and could often be found tending to his 70 roses. It was a rare weekend that Craig wasn’t on his tractor buzzing around his property. He also enjoyed playing squash and backgammon, skiing and reading spy novels. He was a Lionel Train enthusiast who spent many years spent time perfecting his O-gauge layout, which was western-themed with rustic scenery, steam locomotives, bridges and rugged terrain spanning an entire room in his basement. A new level was achieved the day he broke through a cement interior basement wall so that the train could have a proper tunnel. The “train room” was an enchanting place for the many children who visited.
Craig was an active volunteer for most of his adult life. He volunteered at his alma mater, Colgate, in many capacities over the years and was awarded a Maroon Citation, an honor recognizing his record of service. Craig also served as chairman of the board of Miss Hall’s School in Lenox, Mass. He served on the board of Wee Burn Country Club. He was on the vestry at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Stamford, involved in the 1980s Canterbury Green project, which continues to benefit the church and the St. John’s Community Foundation. Craig also served on Darien’s Zoning Board of Appeals. He was a member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Wee Burn Country Club, and Lake Sunapee Yacht Club.
Craig was, above all, a family man. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Linda Stiles Ferguson, and his three children, Anne Foster (Dave), Bruce Ferguson (Pam) and Lynne Somerville (Scott), all of Darien. Also surviving are his nine grandchildren Elizabeth, Wells, Ellen, Katharine, Bruce, Peter, Doug, Andrew and Mimi and two sisters-in-law Barbara and Joanne Ferguson, as well as many nieces and nephews and their children. Some of Craig’s happiest times were spent sharing family time at his beloved Lake Sunapee before a roaring fire or sitting on the deck surrounded by laughter and love. In Craig’s passing, his family has lost a most remarkable and loved patriarch. His life will be celebrated at a memorial service at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday April 9 at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 1864 Boston Post Road, Darien.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Craig’s memory to Colgate University, PO Box 313, Canajoharie, NY 13317-0313. Donations will be directed to the Jessie Ferguson Endowed Scholarship Fund, created by Craig in honor of his mother.
The family wishes to thank Craig’s caregivers, Joseph, Gina, Diane, Maria, and Debbie.
Jim Himes represents Connecticut’s 4th District in the United States House of Representatives where he is serving his eighth term. He serves as Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and on the House Financial Services Committee. Jim plans to have a conversation with us that will cover a number of current topics including (among others): the most feasible path to raising the debt ceiling; continuing efforts to forge a middle ground consensus on sensible legislation that, if enacted, could alter the course of destructive gun violence spreading across our nation; the likelihood that Connecticut will continue to receive its fair share of federal government funding for major infrastructure and military investments; the likelihood that Congress will authorize funding to sustain our country’s support of Ukraine at a level that, in combination with contributions from our allies, will eventually permit Ukraine to achieve some version of victory against Russia; the recent intelligence leaks, the risks posed by Chinese spy balloons, and the ever-growing threat of cyber-warfare; and the fervent desire of many Americans that both parties in Congress move away from ideological extremism to pursue practical and reasonable legislative solutions designed to preserve our democracy and enable all Americans to have the opportunity to live productive, meaningful and satisfying lives.
Humorist Jerry Zezima, who is a Stamford native, writes a humor column for Tribune News Service and is the author of six books, including his latest entitled One for the Ageless: How to Stay Young and Immature Even if You Are Really Old. The work is a fun and irreverant collection of reflections on aging.
Imagine life for a moment without reliable sources of electricity for our every need, no further away than the nearest wall socket. Local historian and frequent DMA speaker Art Gottlieb will enlighten us on the history of what is called “The Power Grid,” a network of power generation and distribution systems made possible by the genius of Nicola Tesla and his practical applications of Alternating Current (AC), enabling electricity to be consumed hundreds of miles away from its point of generation. This talk will also feature a discussion of alternative green energy sources contributing to “The Grid.”
Kathryn du Pree, a life-long expert in addressing the special needs of people on the autism spectrum, will engage in a wide-ranging conversation with Tom Igoe to explore the nature of autism and recent studies that show it becoming increasingly prevalent in the population. They will discuss, among other topics: the educational, behavioral, and job training and transition services available across Connecticut for those on the autism spectrum; the critical role of schools, academies and nonprofit organizations and the dedicated people that serve this population and their families; the difficult staffing challenges that arose during the Covid pandemic and persist today; and the various lifestyle options available for people on the spectrum, including independent living, group homes and employment opportunities, all with a view to enabling these unique individuals to live rewarding and purposeful lives.
Marshall Mayer, in conversation with Ken Bernard, will discuss the heroic humanitarian relief efforts young volunteers are bringing to war-torn Ukraine and his unforgettable first-hand experiences. A Westport native, Marshall is a New York City-based finance professional who has been active in Ukraine since the firshttps://dariendma.org/wp-content/uploads/IMG_5413.movt weeks of the war to coordinate refugee assistance, supply, and transport on both sides of the border. He and his brother Brian launched the non-profit Ukraine Aid International, and together they have facilitated the shipment and delivery of more than a million pounds of food, medicine, medical supplies, and humanitarian aid into Ukraine, mostly to the war-torn regions of Kharkiv, Kherson and Donetsk.
Ken Bernhard is a senior partner at the Connecticut law firm of Cohen and Wolf. He graduated from Yale (1966) and NYU Law School (1970) and then served in the U.S. Army as a member of the Judge Advocates Corps, first as trial counsel and then as an associate professor of law at the Military Academy at Westport, where he taught criminal and constitutional law. Ken served eight years as a State Representative representing his hometown of Westport in the Connecticut Legislature. Ken is also a Senior Attorney with the Center for International Legal Studies located in Salzburg, Austria and under its auspices taught in multiple law schools from Latvia to Mongolia, including Ukraine, which is what motivated him to get involved in what is happening there and teaming up with Marshall and Brian.
Maureen Neuberger, Director of the Catholic Charities Senior Nutrition Program serving towns throughout lower Fairfield County, including Darien, will discuss the launch of a new initiative called the Senior Dine Program – a restaurant-based meal program where seniors, 60 years and older, can come together in a traditional restaurant setting for a nutritious meal at a subsidized price. There are no income requirements. Partnering with local restaurants, Senior Dine has a flexible schedule and choice of meal. Catholic Charities works to develop menus that are balanced and nutritious. This program, together with the organization’s Senior Cafés located at area senior centers, promotes socialization and independence.