Vincent D. Ferguson

Vincent D. Ferguson (1954-2024)

Vincent D. Ferguson, known to most as Vince, died late night Monday, April 8, 2024, after a series of health struggles that required initial hospitalization in December. He was 69.

Born November 20, 1954, in Shreveport, LA, to the late Bessie M. Ferguson, Vince and the family, including his older brother and two younger sisters, eventually migrated to California and settled in Santa Monica near other relatives. After graduating from Santa Monica High School, he started his first significant career by joining the US Navy, taking him around the world with the Pacific Fleet. His most memorable deployment cruise was with the USS Enterprise (CVN-65). As he was winding down his career with the Navy, his final duty station assignment was with a ship dry-docked at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. Instead of returning to California or Louisiana, he decided to settle in Pennsylvania.

After his Navy career, Vince worked in the Security industry as a Supervisor and Assistant Security Director for several different organizations around Philadelphia, including Museum Towers Apartments, 2601 Parkway Apartments and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, not knowing how all those positions would prepare him for his next significant career endeavor. After a short period as a Contract Security Patrol Officer with RAV Security Services, one fortuitous assignment with the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (LTSP) began his career in Higher Education Security. He rose through the ranks at LTSP, from Patrol Officer, Corporal, Lieutenant and Acting Director before becoming Chief of Safety and Security at LTSP from 2007-2017. When LTSP merged with Gettysburg Seminary to become United Lutheran Seminary, he remained Chief of Public Safety and Security for two additional years. He had brief employments with Arcadia University and Sovereign Security before retiring in December 2022.

Vince will be remembered as a proud Navy Chief, a burgeoning blues musician, an artful storyteller, and a self-proclaimed grill master. He is survived by his wife of more than 10 years, Edrena; their 8-year old Labrador Retriever, Blackjack; and several relatives across the country. He will be missed by his family, friends, colleagues, students, professors and mentors from all phases of his life. As he was averse to funerals, Vince will be cremated and buried at sea in Oceanside, California, located between San Diego and Santa Monica, two of the many places that meant so much to him.

“We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch – we are going back from whence we came.”    -John F. Kennedy

And now his watch is over.