Connie Rae Ferris Bailey

MADISON - Connie Ferris Bailey, age 74, of Madison, passed away peacefully with her husband, John, at her side on Sunday, May 2, 2021. In 2010, Dr. Robert J. Dempsey, M.D., Chairman of Neurological Surgery at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, and Dr. Mustafa Baskaya, M.D., tenured Professor and the Robert J. Dempsey Professor of Neurological Surgery at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, performed cerebrovascular surgery on two intracranial aneurysms, saving her life the first time. In 2016, Connie was diagnosed with breast cancer caught in a routine wellness check. Over the next five years she made a valiant series of challenging choices with hope of extending her life, among other things, regularly going to UW Carbone Cancer Center for a series of potentially life-saving drugs and surgeries. The UW doctors and nurses had extended her life again. Connie was born on May 13, 1946, in Madison, to Howard and Eulaine (Leuck) Schrack. Connie was a pioneer in youth development and leader in social reform. She grew up on what was then the rural far west side playing softball with her brothers and sister, riding Susie, the family horse, and following the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps. In school, Connie was an accomplished musician who loved to play clarinet and saxophone and earned many local and state awards and was chosen to be student director for her junior and senior high school bands. In 1955, the family moved to Arnold, Pa., where Connie learned of diversity and inclusion from her pastor, the Rev. Earl Strawn. She lived this by becoming the first female player on a male pony league baseball team that won the State of Pennsylvania regional title in 1961, the same year she worked with Pastor Strawn to integrate the church’s youth program. The pastor was later fired which spurred her on to make social reform her life’s mission. In 1963, Connie returned to attend the UW-Madison and received a B.A. in Social Work in 1967. She believed diverse perspectives combined with an inclusive culture would help young people make better life decisions, stimulate innovation in communities and strengthen resilience to disruption. Connie believed in empowering people by respecting and appreciating what makes them different, in terms of gender, ethnicity, religion, and sexual orientation. Connie married Bill Ferris Jr. in 1971, and joined him in his five successful campaigns for Dane County Sheriff. Their focus was social reform. She loved to cook so she and Bill combined cooking and social work by opening Connie’s Cafe, located on Williamson Street in the space now occupied by Willalby’s, where she served a great breakfast and lunch and provided friendly advice to many who found she was a good listener and counselor. Until recently, Connie’s brothers, sister, nieces, nephews, and friends all enjoyed being invited to what was referred to as an impromptu “Connie’s Café Breakfast” on Denton Place. In 1976, Connie sold the cafe and took her skills to Operation Fresh Start, which became the focus of her life’s work for the next 35 years. From 1979, until retirement in 2011, Connie was Executive Director of Operation Fresh Start. She concentrated on developing a nationally acclaimed program capable of helping make sure young people have the resources they need to reach their full potential and to broaden their horizons for self-sufficiency. Under Connie’s leadership, OFS became a model for similar youth programs around the country. In retirement, while others were relaxing, Connie and John traveled extensively as she developed the Wisconsin Fresh Start Program in eight rural and urban areas of the state with the encouragement and strong support from Tommy Thompson, the current President of the University of Wisconsin System , former Governor of Wisconsin and former United States Secretary of Health and Human Services , in the cabinet of U.S. President George W. Bush . That effort bridged to YouthBuild USA where Connie provided technical assistance to 16 youth employment organizations around the United States. She was constantly sought for advice because her skill and dedication changed the lives of thousands of young people in Madison, in Wisconsin, and around the country. She officially retired from that role two weeks ago. Connie “walked her talk” by serving on numerous local community boards and commissions, and she received many awards for her work, including the Madison/Dane County Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., Humanitarian Award (2012) and National Governor’s Association Award for Distinguished Service to State Government (2000). In 2004, the Madison YWCA named her a Woman of Distinction. Connie’s greatest source of pride, though, came from seeing the courage and determination shown by individual young people who turned their lives around. Connie maintained lifelong friendships from grade school, her days at Connie’s Cafe, from her college job behind the Rennebohm lunch counter, from her women’s softball team, Madison Scouts, bridge club, the Dane County Sheriff’s Department, and her life’s work. Connie was preceded in death by her parents; and husband, Bill, who died in 1981. In 1991, Connie married John Bailey, who became her partner in life and work and her best friend. He survives her, as well as her stepsons, Mark (Tracy) Bailey and Todd (Marcia) Bailey. She is further survived by her brothers, Howard (Alice) Schrack, Bill (Donna) Schrack, Tom (Lynn) Schrack and Jon (Kathy) Schrack; sister, Tammy Sullivan Caravello (Michael); step grandsons, Nolan and Grayson Bailey; nieces and nephews, Debra Schrack (Woody), Denise (Don) Mathis, William Schrack, Stephanie (Benoit) Guertin, Shari (Dan) Hornseth, Matthew (Katie) Schrack, Jonathan (Victoria) Schrack, Andrew (Alexandra) Schrack, Melanie (Justin) Jansing, Kaitlyn Steben and Daniel (Lexi) Sullivan; along with great-nephews and great-nieces and cousins. A public celebration of Connie’s life will be held in July at an outdoor location for all who were blessed by Connie’s presence in their lives. Due to COVID-19, all attendees will be asked to observe health and safety procedures that meet local, state, and CDC guidelines. Specific information on date and location will be posted soon on the Connie Ferris Bailey Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/connieferris.bailey. Connie, you taught us through your actions, hard work, loyalty, diligence, truthfulness, honesty, courage and fairness. We love you and will hold you in our hearts forever. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson West Funeral & Cremation Care 7435 University Ave. (608) 831-6761