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David Ferrie
Mafia Pilot, Participant in Anti-Castro Bioweapon Plot, Friend of Lee Harvey Oswald and Key to the JFK Assassination
By Judyth Vary Baker Trine Day LLC
Copyright © 2014 Judyth Vary Baker
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-937584-55-9
CHAPTER 1
Origins and Early Years
1894: David's grandfather, Patrick T. Ferrie, joins Cleveland's Fire Department and serves 45 years. He is Fire Warden the last 20 years of service.
March 28, 1918: David William Ferrie is born in Cleveland, Ohio, into a respectable Scotch-Irish family. David's parents were James Howard Ferrie (born 1890), and Burdette Couts Goldrick. James serves 23 years with the Cleveland Police department, rises to the rank of Captain, and becomes Chief Detective, with a law degree.
1920: David's father, James, earns an LLB degree from Cleveland Marshall Law School (within Baldwin-Wallace College). David's uncle, William R. Ferrie, serves 50 years with the Cleveland fire department, rising to the rank of battalion chief. He retires in 1961.
Oct. 30, 1924: David's only sibling, Parmely Thomas is born in Cleveland. David is six-and-a-half.
1928: The Ferrie family moves to 17302 LaVerne Drive, Cleveland.
David remembered that his father said the Irish Mafia was better than the Italian Mafia.
1929-1932: David is molested by a priest at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, where he served in the choir and as an altar boy. The molestations, David told me, continued for several years. He was warned not to tell his parents, because they would punish him for lying.
1930: David becomes physically and emotionally ill from his experiences with the priest.
Stephen Roy: The family move brought him to a new parish and a new school, St. Patrick's. Evidence suggests that Ferrie may have been molested at that church, which may have had a bearing on his own orientation later in life.
1931: Unsuccessful in an attempt to implicate the priest at St. Patrick's in immoral conduct, David told me he was labeled a liar. He consequently dropped out of school, suffering from his first bout of alopecia and depression. He could not get out of bed. His father later wrote a letter stating that his ailing son was treated with ultraviolet radiation and quartz light treatments for alopecia, which were not useful for that condition. David's thyroid may have been undergoing radiation treatment instead, since a thyroid condition is also mentioned (the father could have mixed up what the treatments were for).
1932: David remains ill for about a year, spending much time playing the piano. A sympathetic priest, David told me, restored his faith. He practices on the organ at church, gains approval for his talent, and returns to school.
Stephen Roy: ... At St. Ignatius High School, an all-male Catholic institution, he was a writer for the school newspaper, a champion debater, and a budding actor. In the class play, a murder mystery, he played the victim, a district attorney whose murder is solved by a man named Gill! As he was given to signing papers with his full initials (dwf), he was nicknamed "dwarf" by a fellow Ignatian.
David makes up for his lost year, and does well. He graduates from high school soon after turning 18, along with his classmates.
Sept. 1935: David enters John Carroll University as a freshman. He is mentioned on p. 4 of the university's newspaper: "... Dave Ferrie and other Carroll frosh were Good Samaritans along the road to Tiffin a week ago Friday night ..."
Oct. 30, 1935: The Carroll News says "James H. Ferrie Donates Altar":
Police Captain James H. Ferrie of the Cleveland Police Force and father of David Ferrie, '39 has donated an altar for the Students Sodality Chapel at Carroll. The altar, which is strictly liturgical, is in solid black with chrome finishings. The top is of solid mahogany and weighs approximately one hundred and fifty pounds. The altar stone which is sunk in the top is one of those used at the Congress and was procured especially for the Chapel. The Credence Table, Sanctuary Lamp and the main candlesticks are being made to match the altar. Behind the altar there will hang a huge curtain on which will be suspended a large crucifix.
Comments, below, by Stephen Roy, posted to The Education Forum on Jan. 19, 2005, and again in his article on David Ferrie's life on April 29, 2011 (unchanged) represent his summary of David's experiences at John Carroll University, constituting almost the only exposure the public has had to David's experience at John Carroll U.
Stephen Roy: Ferrie's first higher-education experience was at John Carroll University, a Jesuit institution. He was involved in the Glee Club and school newspaper, and again excelled at debate. But the school forced him to repeat a year due to certain emotional issues. They wrote: "Industrious and ambitious. Is somewhat socially immature. Is an enthusiast, wants attention and distinction. Wholly lacking in common sense; hard to direct or control."
We assume this negative assessment comes from FAA records obtained from the university. Mr. Roy says David failed a year of college. Newspaper articles below described David as "Class of 1939" consistently. There is no hint of Dave's failures in these articles, which generally praise him.
The Carroll News
The university's newspaper, The Carroll News, offers a comprehensive view of David's many talents and a glimpse of his popularity with both students and instructors, in stark contrast to the report received years later. The Carroll News describes David Ferrie as a normal, bright student:
Freshman Year:
March 23, 1936: David is a fund-raiser. The Carroll News, Vol. 16, No. 10, mentions David as Gesu Parish's "captain" in a fundraising campaign for university faculty housing. There are 23 parishes with captains in charge of fundraising throughout the area.
May 20, 1936: The student body votes for David Ferrie. These articles appeared in The Carroll News:
(p. 1) "Dean Bracken Gives Medal" When the finals of the Freshman Oratorical Contest were held today ... the winner was selected by decision of the entire student body. ... The contestants, ... were: David Ferrie, "A Great American;" Paul Cassidy, "The American Merchant Marine;" Mark Blinn, "An Appeal to Arms;" Richard White, "Politics in College;" and Carl Burlage ...
(p. 2):"Frosh Debaters Conclude Season" ... the Freshman Debating Society of John Carroll has just concluded a short but entirely successful season. In the first month of its existence the society held a round robin tournament. Jerome Clifford and David W. Ferrie were the winners of this tournament ...
Sophomore Year:
Oct. 9, 1936: David Ferrie is put in charge of a debate contest. On this date, the newspaper (Vol. VXII) praises Ferrie's debate team, saying, "On October 9, 1936, this organization held a banquet at Kent State University. ... David Ferrie has been placed in charge of the [March 20] contest. ... This endeavor by the Carroll Oratorical Society climaxes a brilliant season of debating by members of that society. Successful in home debates, undefeated on a tour of midwest universities, and now ready to play host to the most active debating organization in the country, it is fitting that Carroll students doff their hats to this smoothly functioning forensic group."
March 10, 1937: David remains in charge of debate activities. In his sophomore year, David is in charge of arranging the university's debate tournament, as reported by The Carroll News: "Carroll to Play Host to Northeast Ohio Debate Tournament. ... When the members of the Northeastern Ohio Debate conference meet on the Carroll campus on Saturday, March 20, more than fifteen Ohio universities will enter representatives in the annual debate tournament. According to David Ferrie, Carroll sophomore in charge of arrangements. ... Four rounds of debate will be held through the day ..."
April 7, 1937: David helps run the glee club. The Carroll News, Vol. 17, No. 11,p. 2: David is a committee member of the Glee Club, in charge of obtaining patrons (advertising support). On p. 3, David is also listed as a "veteran" contender who must write his own five-minute oration and present it for the annual Oratorical Medal.
Junior Year:
Dec. 17, 1937: David is a writer for his newspaper. In The Carroll News, Vol. 18, No. 5. David is listed as a feature writer.
Jan. 19, 1938: The Carroll News, Vol. 18, No. 6.David is again listed as a feature writer.
March 9, 1938: David becomes assistant director of the glee club and gives an organ concert. TheCarroll News, Vol. 18. No. 9.As well as becoming an assistant, David is also shows his competence as a musician, as evidenced by this newspaper comment on p. 1, regarding the university's annual Spring Concert to be held May 8, 1938: "Present plans for the musical program include an organ solo by David W. Ferrie, one of the assistant directors of the organization."
March 30, 1938: David continues to be active in debating and public speaking. The Carroll News, Vol. 18, No. 10: "David Ferrie remains active as of this date in the Carroll Oratorical Society and is expected to participate in debate tournaments. "It is presumed that the following students , active during the year, in debating and public speaking, will enter: Blinn, Burlage, Corrigan, Cosgrove, Deal, DeFranco, Dinmone, Ferrie, Fogarty, Fornes, McCaffrey, McGannon, McManus, Nichols, Osborne, Rambousek, James Smith, and Victory."
So, who penned the statement," wholly lacking in common sense; hard to direct or control ..." that was obtained years after David left this university? Mr. Roy will hopefully reveal the answers when his book is published.
The Carroll News, Page 2, (Vol. 18, No. 10): David's sense of humor did not go unappreciated. "For some really amusing anecdotes, listen in on Dave Ferrie when he's in a story telling mood. The other day he kept us in stitches for over an hour."
March, 1938: David is appointed by his class president to head an important, historic committee for the university (p. 3, Vol. 18, No. 10): "For several years various persons have asked if there was any memorial to the patron of the school on the premises ... there was [nothing] about John Carroll save an unreliable painting. ... Mr. James Wilson, President of the Class of '39 appointed a committee headed by Mr. David W. Ferrie, with the following members: Philip Lawton, Gene Kirby, Paul Seliskar. ... The statue will measure about seven feet in height, resting on a four foot pedestal."
David Ferrie headed the committee that made this statue of Bishop John Carroll a reality at John Carroll University. Rather than a full-length figure, which already existed at Georgetown University (also founded by Bishop Carroll), the university settled on a well-designed bust of the Bishop.
May 20, 1938: David is again favorably mentioned. "Double Talk," p. 3:
FIRST, let's toss a great, big, well deserved bouquet at Father Kiefer ... and our own Glee Club for a most excellent concert. Many favorable comments, from both students and outsiders alike ... [later, at dinner] Dave Ferrie, local virtuoso of the organ, completely dominating the conversation at his table ...
Edward T. Haslam: He entered John Carroll University, a Catholic, Jesuit university, where he did well, studying Greek, Latin, History, and Government with all A's and B's.
John Carroll U: John Carroll is a private, coeducational, Catholic and Jesuit university providing programs in the liberal arts, sciences and business at the undergraduate level and in selected areas at the master's level.
David Tries for the Priesthood
Sept. 1938: Instead of going on to finish his senior year, David enters Saint Mary Seminary. (In that era, a young man who felt a calling, or "vocation" could finish his college education in a seminary.)
Stephen Roy: Over his two year stay, the rector ... considered [him] unsuitable for the priesthood: Brashness, a compulsive leadership complex, excessive criticism of superiors, and most important, he "came to be regarded among his associates as rather antinomian" (one who believes that faith is enough for salvation, that adherence to a moral code is not necessary.) He was asked to leave the seminary. The stress and depression once again caused an occurrence of hair loss.
Edward T. Haslam: Ferrie later reapplied for admission, but Saint Mary's would not take him back.
We don't know what causes alopecia to this day. David said that while he was trying to become a priest, his homosexuality became fully developed. "God created me this way," Dave declared." I couldn't fight it any more."
1940: David's father rescues his 22-year-old son by getting him into Baldwin-Wallace College, where he had successfully attended college to get his law degree. David transfers over many of his credits from John Carroll. He needs very few to graduate.
Stephen Roy: [David] took a part-time job pumping gas and entered Baldwin-Wallace College, his father's alma mater. He was assigned to student-teach at Rocky River High School, but he still felt a calling to the priesthood. He applied for admission to the Society of the Precious Blood at St. Charles Seminary in Carthagena. The war was heating up, and his correspondence indicates that he asked for a hurry-up admission to avoid the draft, while his younger brother enlisted.
David, who was about to graduate, feared he would get drafted before he could be accepted into St. Charles. He was not trying to avoid the draft out of cowardice, or a lack of patriotism, but because he still had a sincere desire to become a priest, as his record the next few years will make clear.
1940-1941: David is teaching at Rocky River High School.
Edward T. Haslam: Frances McKee, supervisor, said at that time, "His interest in teaching students is very closely tied up with his religious faith." When questioned years later ... she was less charitable ... he was "the poorest teacher they ever had" [and was] "tricky, a bluffer, shrewd, and probably a liar." She added that she received "complaints about his psychoanalyzing his students." ... [but she never had] "complaints involving moral problems."
June 9, 1941: David graduates with high grades from Baldwin-Wallace College with a B.A. in Philosophy.
Wikipedia ignores David's B.A. degree: Ferrie attended St. Ignatius High School, John Carroll University, St. Mary's Seminary, where he studied for the priesthood, and Baldwin-Wallace College. He next spent three years at the St. Charles' Seminary in Carthagena, Ohio.
HSCA: David Ferrie received his BA degree in Philosophy from Baldwin-Wallace with high grades, as indicated by these HSCA references: (24) pp. 18-19, FAA, vol. III, exhibit. (25) Ibid., FAA, vol. III. exhibit, transcript of grades from Baldwin-Wallace College, Berea, Ohio, June 9, 1941 ; lists all courses ...
Fall, 1941: David, who has applied to enter St. Charles Seminary, is accepted into its special program of studies, overseen by priests of The Society of the Precious Blood. David is also involved in community service.
Dec. 1, 1941: The Civil Air Patrol is now an official organization; Ohio has CAP squadrons.
Dec. 7, 1941: Pearl Harbor is attacked. On Dec. 11, Earle Johnson pulls a stunt in Cleveland:
Johnson ... [s]eeing the potential for light aircraft to be used by saboteurs ... took it upon himself to prove how vulnerable the nation was. Johnson took off in his own aircraft from his farm airstrip near Cleveland, Ohio, taking three small sandbags with him. Flying at 500 feet (150 m), Johnson dropped a sandbag on each of three war plants and then returned to his airstrip. The next morning he notified the factory owners that he had "bombed" their facilities. The CAA apparently got Johnson's message and grounded all civil aviation until better security measures could be taken. Not surprisingly, the Civil Air Patrol's initial membership increased along with the new security.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from David Ferrie by Judyth Vary Baker. Copyright © 2014 Judyth Vary Baker. Excerpted by permission of Trine Day LLC.
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