Ferrara, Anthony Joseph

Anthony Joseph Ferrara, more commonly known as A.J., passed away July 21,

2017 after prolonged illness. Born January

11th, 1940 in Highland Park,

NJ to parents Anthony Joseph Ferrara and Josephine Barbano Ferrara.

He is predeceased by son Alfred Anthony Ferrara.

He is survived by his devoted, longtime companion, Lorraine Almo.

Additionally, he is survived by his first wife, Winona Slaughter, of Gilbertsville, NY & their children: Daughter, Amy Joseph & her husband, William & their daughter, Genevieve, all of Charlotte, NC; Son, Dr. Justin Ferrara, and his wife, Lindsay, and their sons, Dylan and Bryson, all of Saratoga, NY.

His second wife, Virginia Ferrara, of Alb, NM.

His third wife, Moriah McLeod, and their daughter, Meghan, both of Alb.

Prior to attending Temple University, A.J. spent a brief time in the U.S. Marine Corps. He earned his Ph.D. in Near Eastern Studies from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD. He took many archaeological trips to Kuwait where he unearthed, pieced together and translated clay tablets from ca. 2000 BCE., from ancient Sumerian to modern day English for numerous journal articles. This was a passion of A.J.’s and he continued to be one of very few experts in this field for the remainder of his life. Beyond Sumerian, A.J. was an expert linguist and demonstrated proficiency or fluency in many languages.

In addition to the Ph.D. he earned at Johns Hopkins, he attended and graduated from law school in 1977 in Albuquerque, NM where he practiced law for 40 plus years.

A.J loved the fresh air & the New Mexico climate and he enjoyed hiking and camping and was partial to the time he was able to spend in Bandelier Park and Puye and he developed an interest in fly fishing.

A.J. maintained a grand appreciation of music and played briefly with a local bluegrass band.

He is deeply loved, will be forever missed and will, most certainly, be quoted often and with much affection (and maybe even with a good laugh).