Adolph John "Al" Ferro Jr.

Welcome to
Epitope.us

Adolph John "Al" Ferro Jr.
April 02, 1942 - May 25, 2015

Al Ferro (73) passed away in the early morning of Memorial Day, May 25, 2015, in his home in Ridgefield, Wash., in the arms of his wife and two children. His death was a consequence of a two-year battle with cancer.

Al was born in Mt. Vernon, N.Y., and moved with his family to Tacoma at age 9. He graduated from Wilson High School in 1960 and then enrolled in the University of Washington, graduating in 1965. After graduation, he taught science and coached sports at Lynden High School for three years.

He left teaching to pursue his Master of Science full time at Western Washington University. Two years later, he was awarded a fellowship from the National Science Foundation to continue his studies as a doctoral student at Washington State University. He earned his Ph.D. in Microbiology in 1973 and moved to Chicago to first do post-doctoral research at the University of Illinois, Chicago, prior to accepting a faculty position at the same university.

In 1978, his Northwest roots and family brought him to an assistant professorship in the department of microbiology at Oregon State University in Corvallis. For nine years, his family enjoyed the perks of living in a smaller college town oriented to family activities. Al loved coaching kids' soccer during this period and took satisfaction in growing his research lab with grant funding for a great crew of graduate students and post-docs.

His interests had morphed from basic science to more applied science as he was developing an appetite for working on treatment and testing projects closer to a direct interface with patients. This shift was complete when he joined Epitope, a Portland-based public biotechnology company in 1987. He was hired as senior vice president of research, and became the chief executive officer in 1990.

During his seven-year tenure as CEO, he was a driving force at shepherding the company's pioneering oral specimen-collection testing device for HIV detection through the FDA. This ground-breaking product was ultimately approved in 1995. Navigating this five-year quest showcased Al's particular repertoire of talents, most notably his lifelong capacity for relentless tenacity.

In 1997, he changed directions and devoted his attentions to potential agricultural breakthroughs as the CEO of Agritope, which was sold in 2000. For the last 11 years of his professional life, he worked at helping to grow funding for promising medical science research projects primarily bred in the labs of OHSU and VA researchers.

In the full course of his 73 years, Al's devotion to and love for his family defined his core identity. He and his wife of 48 years, Julie Child Ferro, were incomparably blessed by their children, son, Jay Ferro of Santa Barbara, Calif.; and daughter, Molly Ferro Chester of Ridgefield. In turn, the children multiplied the gifts they brought by marrying lovely human beings, Deena Severance Ferro and Tyler Chester.

These two couples delivered six magnificent grandchildren into Al's and Julie's lives, upon whom the sun rises and sets in our grandparental eyes. They are Kyle John, Paige Elizabeth, Ava Claire and Ember Grace Ferro, Cole Ferro Chester and Caden McGowan Chester. Al is survived by this grand tribe of immediate family, plus his sister and brother-in-law, Connie and Tom Van Well of Wenatchee, Wash.; sister-in-law, Mary Pirone of Federal Way, Wash.; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Maralyn and Dick Ditlevson of Olympia; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Gerry and Jeri Child of Olympia; and a wonderful group of nieces, nephews, grandnephews and two grandnieces. Al was preceded in death by his parents, Al and Janet Ferro; brother, Joe Pirone; and parents-in-law, Helen and Gerry Child.

For any who would wish to make a donation in Al's memory, the family offers the following two suggestions. Because our adored first grandson, Kyle Ferro, opened our world to kids with special needs, we are suggesting the Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential in Philadel phia. Kyle and other kids from around the world have achieved life-changing development under the auspices of this program. Please visit their website at IAHP.org and note that any donation one may choose to make is being made in memory of Kyle's grandpa, Al Ferro. Secondly, because Al's lifework has been about scientific and medical research, coupled with his personal experience as a cancer patient, remembrances may be made in Al Ferro's name to support research at the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute. Please make checks payable to the OHSU Foundation and mail to: OHSU Foundation, Mail Stop 45, P.O. Box 4000, Portland, OR 97208, and help their research continue to breed the hope that is essential to cancer patients' lives.

Published in The Oregonian from June 5 to June 7, 2015