Carl M. Ferris passed away on March 1, 2024, at Plantation Manor Nursing home in MaCalla, Alabama. He was born on December 4, 1952, in Springfield, Massachusetts, son of the late Dr. Emil M. Ferris and Mary A. (Fahey) Ferris. Carl graduated from Classical High School in Springfield and received his bachelor’s degree from the University of New Hampshire. He also received a master’s degree in business from Western New England College. Carl's banking career took him to Glastonbury, Connecticut and Greenville, South Carolina. For many years, Carl worked as a Senior Vice President of Special Assets for AmSouth Bank in Birmingham, continuing his career through the merger with Regions Bank. He was a former communicant of Sacred Heart Church in Springfield and Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church in Birmingham. He was a very spiritual person who enjoyed his relationship with God and was humbly sober for nearly 30 years.
Carl was a talented musician who played piano and bass guitar. He enjoyed a wide variety of music, from classical pieces by Wagner to classic rock anthems by Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead. He was a voracious reader who appreciated a large range of historical topics. He was also a fan of football, specifically the New England Patriots and the Alabama Crimson Tide. Over the last few years, he loved talking with family every Friday and Sunday about updates with his favorite sports teams. Aside from sports and music, others who knew Carl knew he looked forward to conversations over numerous subjects, and they admired his high intellect and diverse knowledge.
He is survived by his children, Dr. Elsa L. Ferris of CA, Mariel A. Knight and her husband Jarrod of AL (granddaughter Cathleen), and Spencer E. Ferris; his brother Paul T. Ferris of UT; his sisters Angela Ferris Chambers of MO and Elizabeth A. Ferris of MA; and his nieces Nora Sandoval, and her husband Alex, and DeeDee Chambers, and her fiancé, Michael Clavenna. Calling hours will be held on Friday, March 15, 2024, from 5:00 – 7:00 PM at the Grise Funeral Home, 280 Springfield St, Chicopee. A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Saturday, March 16th at 10:00 AM in Sacred Heart Church, 395 Chestnut St, Springfield followed by burial in Fairview Cemetery, Chicopee, and a reception at the Springfield Country Club. For online condolences, please visit www.GriseFH.com. To honor Carl's memory, tax-deductible donations may be made to The Jefferson Alcoholic Foundation, Inc., 2012 14th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35205, https://jafibham.org/ , a branch of Alcoholics Anonymous in Birmingham.