William Ferrara

William Ferrara

1930 - 2012

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Obituary of William Ferrara

William Leonard Ferrara died on October 14, 2012 at Geisinger Medical Center after heart surgery. He was the son of Francesco Ferrara and Maria Vittoria Assunta Ricciardi Ferrara. He was born on September 5, 1930 in Chicago, Illinois; the second of five children, John, William, Silvio, Frank and Angela Maria. On June 26, 1954 he married the former Carol Ann Williams who survives. He is also survived by their seven children - Stephen Ferrara and his wife Sandy, Paul Ferrara and his wife Kelley, Janeen and her husband David Grasser, Cynthia and her husband John Kelley, William Ferrara and his wife Karen, Irene Ferrara and her husband Dana Todd, Joseph Ferrara and his wife Joni, and fifteen grandchildren - Amanda, Tanna, Jenna, and Zachary Ferrara, Nicholas and Mitchell Grasser, Sean and Maria Kelley, Benjamin Ferrara, Samantha and Zoe Todd, Rena and Casey Ferrara, Kenneth Seifert and Jennifer Eichmeyer. He was a graduate of DePaul University, Chicago, with a bachelor's degree in Accounting and Michigan State University, with master's and doctorate degrees. He was also a CPA. As an educator he taught accounting-related subjects at Penn State, retiring as Professor Emeritus after 27 years and Stetson University, retiring as Professor Emeritus after 10 years. He received the "Distinguished Achievement Award" from the DePaul University Alumni Association; the Beta Alpha Psi "Outstanding Alumnus Award" from Michigan State University; six MBA "Excellence in Teaching Awards", an "Outstanding Advisor Award", and a "Faculty Humanitarian Award" at Penn State; a "Golden Apple Award" and a "Perfect Five Award" at Stetson; a "Distinguished Service Award for Educators" from the Institute of Management Accountants; seven "merit awards" plus a "bronze medal" for manuscripts published by the Institute of Management Accountants. He served the Institute of Management Accountants as a member of its National Executive Committee, as a National Vice President, as Chair of its National Committees on Education and Public Relations plus as a member of its Board of Regents, responsible for the CMA Examination; The American Accounting Association as a member of Council, President of its Management Accounting Section, Editor of The Journal of Management Accounting Research and Chair of its Advisory Committee to the Director of Education and Committee on CPA Examinations; and the American Institute of CPAs as a member of its Educator's Advisory Committee and its Board of Examiners, responsible for the CPA Examination. In 1996 he served as the American Accounting Association's Distinguished International Visiting Lecturer and spoke to and visited with students, faculty and practitioners at universities throughout South Africa. In 2007 he was awarded the Lifetime Contribution to Management Accounting Award by the Management Accounting Section of the American Accounting Association. After retirement Bill and Carol spent much time with family, especially with children and grandchildren. Traveling, family genealogy, attempts to become a "fair" ballroom dancer and a number of volunteer activities, especially the Knights of Columbus, kept his retirement schedule abundantly and pleasantly filled. Visitation will be Sunday, October 21, 2012 from 1-3 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at Koch Funeral Home. Funeral services will be Monday, October 22 at Our Lady of Victory Church at 9:30 a.m. with Monsignor David A. Lockard officiating. Burial will be in the Boalsburg Cemetery at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to House of Care at Geisinger Medical Center, 100 N. Academy Avenue, Danville, PA 17822 or St. Vincent De Paul, 526 Westerly Parkway, State College, PA 16801. Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Online condolences and signing of the guest book may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com.
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