Donald John Ferguson

DONALD JOHN FERGUSON (May 25, 1945 – July 31, 2024) passed away on July 31, 2024 in Denver, CO, after being diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). He was the son of John C. Ferguson and Agnes A. Eastgate of Eureka, CA. He was brother to June Phillips and Barbara Jensen, and step-son to Allen Eastgate, of Chiloquin, Oregon. Donald “Skip” was an avid hunter, fisherman, poet and outstanding athlete. He lettered 11 out of 12 times at Fortuna Union High School in football, baseball and basketball. He was quarterback at Humboldt State University prior to his acceptance at University of Oregon school of Dentistry. After graduation with a DMD, he was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the US Navy Dental Corps where he served aboard the carrier USS Ranger in the Gulf of Tonkin (Vietnam). After his service, he obtained a Certificate of Orthodontics at University of the Pacific in San Francisco, CA. His career included private practice, research and teaching in universities in California, Indiana, Wisconsin, St. Louis, Boston and Dubai. He served as chair of the Orthodontic Departments at Marquette University, Boston University and as one of the Founding Deans and a distinguished Professor at the European University College in Dubai, UAE. He was a member and President of the Midwest Component of the Edward H. Angle Society (1998), diplomate and member of the American Board of Orthodontics.

Skip was well respected in the orthodontic community and loved by all whose lives he touched along the way. There were decades spent in high demand as a lecturer worldwide and his footprint and impact expands across the globe due to his extensive collaborations and research, expertise and his excellence as a mentor, professor and colleague.

As a husband and father, he provided multiple opportunities for international travel and education, exporting his family with him on sabbatical to live internationally extending his cultural and collegiate education and charity to Guatemala, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Europe and Australia. He was an active church member, served as a ceremonial leader for Indian Guides/Trailblazers and was elected to the Waukesha School Board.

He is survived by his three children, Franklin Jon Ferguson, Dana Ferguson Carter and Zachary Hart Ferguson and remembered by Janet Schmiege Ferguson, six (6) grandchildren, his niece Kelli DePeel, nephews Dean and Perry Teague, Rick Frye, Ronnie August and Cindy August.

The family would like to thank the Rocky Mountain VA Medical Center for all of the compassionate treatment and care provided following Skip’s diagnosis with AML. Donations in memory of Dr. Donald J. Ferguson (“Skip”) to the VA Medical Center can be made to the Rocky Mountain VA Medical Center Donations here: Pay.gov - VISN 19 Donation Form

Donation Details:

· Facility: Eastern CO VA Health Care System

· Program: Denver General Benefit of Patient Fund

· In Memory of: Dr. Donald John Ferguson (“Skip”)

If you would like to share a memory, story or share the impact Skip made on you, feel free to do so here: Donald-john-ferguson.forevermissed.com