Respected California designer Robert Ferguson died May 20, 2003,
at Lassen House, Red Bluff, where he was cared for in the memory
wing, treated with dignity and great affection.
Respected California designer Robert Ferguson died May 20, 2003, at Lassen House, Red Bluff, where he was cared for in the memory wing, treated with dignity and great affection. He was 79.
Born October 6, 1925, in San Jose, to William Henry Ferguson and Helen Louise Schiwtzgeble, Robert spent much of his formative youth in Morgan Hill. Always creative, his enthusiasm, intrigue of finding unique solutions and attention to detail led to many fulfilling endeavors.
Robert’s college days at San Jose State were interrupted by World War II. He took a civilian job with the FBI in the cartography department. By 19, he had enlisted in the Army Air Corps. Trained as a pilot, he was directed to teach Chinese allies to fly; employing more ingenuity than ever, they spoke no English, and he, no Chinese.
Following the 1951 establishment of his own “Robert Ferguson Interiors.” He directed Habers interior design department in Santa Cruz, completing countless residential, commercial and public projects from Pasa Tiempo to Pebble Beach, and Sacramento to Lake Tahoe.
In the late ’60s, he founded a design firm called “INDEX” and launched “Showroom 500” in San Francisco. The dynamic partnership Ferguson/Hildreth was born, resulting in sophisticated showrooms and offices in Portland, Seattle and Hawaii. They developed major projects in a former firehouse and defunct brewery. Ferguson instigated the practice of working directly with fabric mills, giving refurnishing of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Arizona Biltmore. Interest in other cultures and varied architectural details led to a life rich in travel, adding a new dimension to his visual interests. He also worked in Germany, designing some of the earliest computer-integrated work spaces.
In “retirement.” he designed furniture, garden gates and arbors, marketed by Smit and Hawkin. One known as “the university bench”, graced many public spaces, among them U.C. Berkeley. At over 70 years of age, he was still designing restaurants in a number of refurbished buildings and completing major remodeling projects.
Despite vast obstacles of illness, Mr. Ferguson continued to charm others with his love of music, sense of rhythm, sly humor and appreciative manner. One of his sons-in-law called him the most civilized person he had ever met.
Robert Ferguson is survived by his brother William of Columbus, Ohio; sister Patricia of Soquel; children Katherine Wilson (Richard) of Redding, Linda Tacklind (Thomas) of San Martin, Robin Ferguson-Miller (Forest) of Sausalito; seven grandchildren; three great grandchildren; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. In addition, he will be missed by the two mothers of his children, Susan Jones and Carole Raisbeck, a late-life love, Evelyn Anderson, and the world’s finest friend, Jim Hildreth.
A celebration of his life will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday near Morgan Hill at the home of his daughter Linda Tacklind. For more information please call
(530) 527-1174.
