Remembering Leonard Ferguson

Leonard Ferguson, a long-time former member of the Horsham Lions Club, passed on July 11th in Burlington, NC at age 87. Leonard left Horsham in 1982 when he retired to North Carolina. Leonard was born in Hastings, Nebraska. He was an accomplished piano player. He was married for close to 70 years to his wife Riva.

Leonard received a Masters degree in History from University of Nebraska 1948. That same year, he moved his family to Philadelphia, and entered the PhD program for History at the University of Pennsylvania.

Shortly after that, he left the PhD program to become executive director of what is now known as the College Settlement Camp in Horsham. He remained director until 1982, for a total of 34 years.

The College Settlement Camp offers overnight camping for economically needy children from the five county Philadelphia region. It also has a day-camp, which serves kids from targeted schools in Philadelphia. His influence on the camps and on Horsham is immeasurable.

Leonard has been a member of Lions clubs, the Monarch Club of Philadelphia, the American Camping Association, and the Upper Dublin Friends Meeting association.

Since retiring to North Carolina, he remained active in Lions as well as in the Masonic Temple. His wife Riva passed in April 2006. He later moved to a retirement community, where he was in constant demand to perform on the piano for his friends and neighbors.

A memorial service in Horsham is planned but not announced. Details to come.

Please let Andy Weiss know if you’d like to contact his son via email. Not a week after his passing, his son felt it necessary to inform the Lions; and he has been gone from Horsham for 25 years. We’re flattered that his fondness of our club has remained so strong for so long.