Ferris Todd Ed.D, 64, passed away on August 26th at 8:42pm, after a nearly 17 year battle with breast cancer. Ferris, beloved mother of Meghan T. (Paulo) Cabral, Zibby T. (Jake Keyel) Greenebaum, James E. (Lou Becker) Greenebaum III, Daniel T. Greenebaum and proud grandmother of Maria, Paulo Roberto, Ilana and Olivia, passed peacefully in her sleep surrounded by family.
A memorial service will be held at Douglas Lake in the summer of 2023 with details to follow. In lieu of flowers, Ferris asked that memorial contributions be made to the American Red Cross at:
https://americanredcross.donordrive.com/campaign/FerrisToddFerris was born on June 23, 1958 to James R. Todd and Mary L. Todd in Evanston, IL. Ferris began her illustrious academic career at Crow Island Elementary School in Winnetka, IL (If you know it, sing along, “Good ol’ Crow Island…”). After graduating from New Trier West High School in 1976, she went on to study Psychology & French at Coe College, receiving her Master’s Degree of Education from Harvard University in 1982 and later her Doctorate of Education from the University of Rochester in 1994. Ferris impacted countless lives as a Marriage & Family Therapist from her home-based private practice which she started in 1989 and served the community for over 20 years.
Ferris met Robert Greenebaum during her senior year at Coe College. The two were married in 1981 at North Shore Congregation Israel. During their 32 years together, and the years following their marriage, they created a lot of memories and raised four wonderful children. Ferris felt firmly that the greatest thing she did in her entire life was raise her four wonderful children.
After retirement, Ferris served as a volunteer for the American Red Cross for many years, changing lives as a Disaster Mental Health Volunteer. She said that she loved her volunteer work with the American Red Cross almost more than her career.
Many hobbies brought Ferris deep joy including cross-stitching until her fingers were sore, taking adventurous road trips with her dog Rufus & friends and surrounding herself with music. She said that the only things left undone in her life were seeing Adele and Elton John live one last time.
Above all, what brought her the greatest joy was literature. Ferris, an illustrious bibliophile, poured her heart into books and shared that passion with her beloved book clubs wherever she lived; Upstate New York, Northern Michigan, Palm Springs and beyond. She was grateful for her chosen family, bound by a shared love for the written word.
Ferris asked that when anyone wants to remember her, they picture her sitting at the end of her dock on Douglas Lake in Michigan watching the shimmer of sunlight bounce off the water feeling the warmth of the light on her face. If you can, raise a toast to her (either a corona with a lime or a glass of cream sherry) and know that she’ll always be doing the same with you.
