Ross A. Ferlito

Ross (Rosario) A. Ferlito, 89, passed away peacefully at home in Raleigh, North Carolina on August 17, 2026.

Born in Fulton, New York, he attended Oswego County elementary schools, notably St. Mary’s in Fulton and District #13 near Southwest Oswego, and graduated from Hannibal Central School in 1954 and the University of Rochester in 1958. He earned his Ph.D. in French and Italian at Tulane University and in conjunction with his graduate studies spent a year at the University of Rennes, France with a Fullbright grant and another year at the University of Florence, Italy, with a Rotary Foundation fellowship.

Mr. Ferlito married the former Ruth Malva Heisecke in 1963. They moved to Hamilton a year later and made their home there. After retirement, they spent part of the year in Raleigh, North Carolina and in 2019 became full time residents of that state. She predeceased him in 2022.

A teacher in the Department of Romance Languages and Literature at Colgate University beginning in 1964, Mr. Ferlito remained in this position until his retirement in 2001. During these many years he spent long periods of time abroad, usually as director of Colgate study groups in France and Italy.

In the course of his life, Mr. Ferlito served in various local organizations, most notably the Chenango Nursery School Board and the Earlville Opera House Board. For many years during his retirement, he enjoyed very much his extensive volunteer work teaching English to immigrants and refugees through the Literacy Volunteers of America in Utica and the English as a Second Language program at Wake Tech Community College in Raleigh. Beginning in 2022, he worked as a respite caregiver through the Center for Volunteer Caregiving.

Mr. Ferlito is survived by daughter Alissa (Jeffrey), son Andrew (Christina), son Eric (Melanie), brother James, 6 grandchildren, and numerous nephews and nieces.

A small family memorial will be held in Hannibal, New York in October. Ross asked that any donations be sent to Doctors without Borders.

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