Jansen, Jr., Ferguson R.

Ferguson Romeyn Jansen Jr., husband, father, grandfather, restaurateur, avid woodcutter and NPR and New York Times enthusiast, died on Wednesday, May 31, 2023.

Ferg was born on September 6, 1940, to Helen and Ferguson Jansen and raised in Hingham, Massachusetts, with his sister, Phyllis.

Along with his beloved cousin Ray Ferris, he studied at Governor Dummer Academy and Denison University before heading to the hotel school at Cornell University. While at Cornell, Ferg and his friends opened The Boxcar restaurant. He often quipped that he missed Woodstock because he had to cover for the staff who went to the festival. In the early '70s, he moved to Hartford where he and partners Jay Dumond and Garry Morfit opened The Last National Bank Restaurant.

He had a strong sense of civic responsibility and was the unofficial mayor of Simsbury. He received many awards, recognitions and honors — much to his embarrassment. His calendar was always full with Simsbury town meetings, the Wood Ministry, Simsbury Meadows work, hanging a banner and his grandchildren's games. He is adored by his wife of 43 years, Linda, and daughters and sons-in-law, Sara and Mark Pierce, Emily and Patrick Safino, and Caroline and Steven Horvat. He treasured his grandchildren, Zoe and Lila Pierce; Maeve, Harrison, Owen and Graham Safino; Jansen and Romey Horvat. He is also survived by Phyllis Jansen, Jan Ferris, Ellen Deutsch, Karen and Steve Boga, Mark and Chanisa Deutsch, Martha Hollister, Madeleine Boga, Susan Jansen, and his buddy Danny Foster. He was predeceased by his parents, Ray Ferris, Nadia and Hans Deutsch, Jeff Hayes and Reid Hollister. A service of remembrance will be held at Valley Community Baptist Church (590 W Avon Rd., Avon) at 2 p.m. on Monday, June 5. A reception will follow at The Talcott Mountain Collective (140 Nod Rd., Weatogue). In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Ferg's name to Valley Brook Community Church (www.valleybrook.cc) or Simsbury Meadows Performing Arts Center (www.simsburymeadows.org). For directions or condolences please visit www.carmonfuneralhome. com