To the family of Don Ferris: It is with great sadness that I have learned about Don's passing. I'm sorry I can't be with you today because of a previous commitment. I knew and worked with Don for many years. He was a superbly talented design engineer and a true gentlemen in the tradition of the Sikorsky family. His diverse and skillful professional talent became a legend to generations of Sikorsky engineers. Ray Leoni reminds us how Don contributed to the creative and legendary "raising of the rotor" design during the UTTAS competition. I recall ,as a young engineer, working with Don on several very challenging propulsion designs......a further testimony to the broad extent of his talents which were not limited to the rotor design domain. Don was one of the "great" talents of our generation and was an inspiration to all of us. His spirit and legacy lives on in his family and in the many products he helped create for our company and our nation. My deepest condolences to Don's family and many friends, Ken Rosen