Connie Rae Ferris Bailey

I am so saddened to hear of the passing of Connie. I worked with Connie for over 30 years. Her laugh was infectious and her honesty refreshing. She was a tireless advocate for disadvantaged youth and justice in our city. I will miss her and the community will have a loss without her. My sincere condolences.

I had the great honor to follow Connie as Executive Director of Operation Fresh Start. I've been here for 10 years and I still think of it as Connie's baby and each young person we work with as Connie's kid. She has been a wonderful mentor and friend and I feel blessed to have come into her circle. Here is a Fresh Start blue candle for you Connie. Thank you.

We are remembering and honoring Connie, and we are so sad to hear this news. She was our YB Coach for many years, and a mentor to our YouthBuild Program Director and Executive Director. Connie’s passion, determination, and talents made our world a better place. May her legacy continue at OFS and at all the YB programs she helped around the country. -Laura Handy at Heart of Oregon Corps

I met Connie in second grade at Camp Badger. We were best buddies. I was devastated when in third grade she said her family was moving to Pittsburgh. That was SOOOO far away! I was sure I would never see my best friend again. Lo and behold we ended up in a class at the UW many years later and reconnected. We shared 3 or 4 apartments, followed her brothers from Denver to Detroit to Ohio and all over Wis. and Illinois for Drum Corps competitions, bar hopped (well..., actually it was mainly The Pirate Ship where she met Bill), and I was her maid of honor when she and Bill married. We continued to be close until I moved to Ohio (almost as far as Pittsburgh). When I returned to Madison in 1993 for my mom's funeral we parked behind a car with license plates I remembered--P900!! Did she still have that number?? John, I am sorry I never got to meet you but I am sure you lived a wonderful life with Connie. There are not many people around who are as loving and giving as she was. Howdie, Bill, Tom, Jon, and Tammy I know you will miss her. Even though I didn't get to see her in recent years, I often think of all of the great times I had with her and your family. My sincerest condolences to all of you. Pat Back Stoltz

We are so sorry to hear about her death. Ann, Don and Mary Schmitz