FERRIS was named for ROBERT JOHN FERRIS, who paid the ultimate price in the attack on America September 11, 2001. Robert John Ferris, age 63, Garden City, New York, worked on the 102nd floor of World Trade Center Tower Two as a senior vice president for Aon Corporation. Mr. Ferris was a kind and sociable man. He was the kind of person everybody liked, and he liked everybody. He has been a Boy Scout troop leader, a Little League coach, a girls' softball coach, a volunteer firefighter, an orphanage volunteer (where they called him "Papa Bob"), and a eucharistic minister, and even operated a community snowblower. The kind of fellow who helped people out, Mr. Ferris also was quite devoted to his family. He is survived by his wife of 38 years and three grown children. We salute Mr. Ferris, a hero, and name this little cutie in his honor.

(Source: Newsday 10/14/01, New York Times 11/27/01)