Don was killed in Viet Nam. His name has been immortalized at the Viet Nam Veteran's Memorial in Washington, D.C., but the black granite incision is small consolation.

At our 30^th reunion, a living memorial, a prize and scholarship fund, was established in his memory and consecrated in a moving remembrance by Matt D'Alessio who was tutored by Don during his 1969-1970 year at Yale.

The Ferguson Prize: "At the request of Mr. And Mrs. Franklin Ferguson, '32 HGS, memorial gifts were sent to the Hopkins Alumni Association to establish a fund to be used for an annual prize in memory of Donald, to be awarded to a boy who best exemplified the Rotary Club motto, "service above self." After the merger with Day Prospect Hill School in 1972, this was modified to include a girl as well. In 1986, with the permission of Mrs. Ferguson and Richard Ferguson '63, the fund was transferred to the School with the understanding that the income would be used for scholarships as well as prizes."

We received the following email on April 11, 1999 from a cousin of Don.

My name is Cynthia Ferguson Carter. Don was my first cousin. I am one of many people who have found themselves in the role of nontraditional student and I was doing some research on the Viet Nam War. In searching for information, I came upon the Hopkins page. It was only yesterday that I looked up information about Don and his untimely death while serving in Viet Nam. I did not know Don very well, simply because we lived such a great distance from each other.... I grew up in Abbeville, SC. Obviously, geography made it difficult for us to get to know each other very well. My family visited Connecticut one summer - I believe it was about 32 years ago. That was the only occasion that I ever had to spend with Don. Uncle Franklin never brought the family south for a vacation - not much to see or do in Abbeville at that time. Actually, not today either. Stumbling on your page just made me want to know more about Don, especially after reading such kind words about him. Should you ever have a free moment to mail me back, please do so at

You can view his name on the wall by clicking here.