The ‘Florence Nightingale gentle touch’ of retired Trinidadian nursing administrator Marlene Ferguson

As a young girl growing up in Trinidad and Tobago, Marlene Ferguson, a retired nursing administrator in Brooklyn, says her father recognized and often commented on the “loving, gentle touch of his Florence Nightingale” daughter.

“My father was a diabetic, so he was my first patient as an unlicensed professional,” Ferguson – who, on Dec. 12, 2012 retired from SUNY Downstate Medical Center and University Hospital of Brooklyn in her administrative role as Associate Director of Nursing in the Ambulatory Department — told Caribbean Life on Sunday.

“However, at that time, I was not of age to be a nursing student,” added Ferguson, 73, a certified registered nurse, who holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing. “My environment did not promote opportunities for a career pathway, and my financial status could not support this endeavor.

“I continued to care for my father, as he crowned me with my nursing cap, always with a grateful heart saying, ‘you are going to be a dawn good nurse’”, she continued.

On completion of secondary education, Ferguson said she migrated to the United States and, soon after, her father died.

“As traumatic as this was for me, I knew immediately that I must do something to honor my father’s memory by becoming a nurse,” she said. “Nursing is a career that requires empathy, compassion, patience, dedication, organizational skills and commitment. These qualities became a part of me while caring for my father.”

Likewise, Ferguson said her mother (now deceased) was a strong role model, who exemplified all of those qualities as displayed by her involvement in church activities, community services, caring for sick neighbors in the village and taking a leadership role in cultural events at the village council recreational facilities.

“I am the person I am today because of my parents,” Ferguson said. “I am very passionate about caring for the sick; rendering aid to those who are less fortunate; and religiously inclined to be involved in the Lord’s work, blessing others as the lord has blessed me.

“My parents thought me everyday value of respect, hard work and to strive for excellence in everything I do,” she added. “I remember these simple quotes from my parents: ‘Save for the rainy day; never hang your hat way your hand can’t reach’.

“I was baffled by these saying at that time,” Ferguson continued. “As I matured in my adulthood, I am thankful for these simple doctrines, which lead me to living a simple life.”

Since her retirement, Ferguson said she has pursued many pathways of “good times, traumatic times and never having any regrets.”

“I knew that, unlike some of my colleagues who have experienced boredom, loneliness, this was never a part of my plan,” she said. “I knew I would be out in the fields seeking opportunity to help someone; and, by doing so, to make the world a better place.

“Now that I am retired, I am prepared to take an active role in community, church and cultural programs,” she added.

Currently, Ferguson is the chairperson for the Family Life Committee, one of the mission units at Fenimore Street United Methodist Church in Brooklyn.

This committee, which was initiated in 1995, reaches into the community to help those who are less fortunate.

Ferguson said the committee, since its formation, has met the needs of over 9, 000 men, women and children by providing them with clothing, food, and a day filled with laughter and fun.

As chairperson, she said it is her role to seek out opportunities, gather information and connect with community business for assistance to promote the program.

Ferguson said she has incorporated the services of the New York City Department of Homeless Services in the program by facilitating the transportation of clients to attend festivities at the church.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ferguson said she recruited church members to reach out into the community and join with affiliated churches to serve Thanksgiving dinners.

“I felt these services to be rewarding in that it brought people together, regardless of your nationality, religion,” she said. “There is such joy and satisfaction when you can render help to the needy.”

Some of the other community events that Ferguson coordinates include Easter celebrations for children to receive Easter baskets; back-to-school projects in which children receive backpacks with school supplies; and Christmas parties with distribution of Christmas gifts.

In addition to feeding the homeless, Ferguson has introduced a new component to the program in which her committee not only serves breakfast to clients at the pantry but delivers hot breakfast to sick-and-shut members at home.

Ferguson also participates in serving breakfast every Thursday at Bethel United Methodist Church, a very active project in feeding the residents of the Atlantic homeless shelter.

As chairperson of the Anniversary Committee at Fenimore Street United Methodist Church, Ferguson said she coordinates the annual commemoration of the history of the church.

“This project is rewarding in that I would invite our political community leaders to the celebratory service to meet with their constituents,” she said. “This is a getting-to-know-your-moment for the leaders and the members of the church. This is a time when we can connect with the leaders, as they bring greetings to the congregation and participate in the festivities.”

Additionally, Ferguson is the a past president of Fenimore Street United Women of Faith, formerly United Methodist Women, now serving as chairperson of the Nomination Committee.

As nomination chair, she is responsible for selecting officers to fill the administrative roles on the committee. She is also part of the committee responsible for selection of the “Woman of the Year” award, which is given at the annual Woman’s Day celebration. Ferguson herself has been a recipient of the “Woman of the Year” award.

During her long employment years at Downstate Medical Center, she coordinated events for Cancer Survivor celebrations, Labor Day, Nurses Week and numerous community health fairs.

As a parent, Ferguson said it was very important to be an active participant in the education of her children (she and her husband, Winston, have three girls, now adults).

“I sought for opportunities where my presence would not only impact on the well-being of my own children but on the entire school community,” Ferguson said. “I engaged and participated in the activities of the parent-teachers’ association (PTA) — from elementary to high school.”

During the elementary years of her children’s schooling, Ferguson said she was active at P.S. 91 and, as her children transitioned to Junior High School, she joined the PTA at Philippa Schuyler Junior High School.

“At this school, we strived on the good old African motto, ‘it takes a village to raise a child’; and this was the village where several Fenimore (Street United Methodist Church) children were raised and received an exceptional education, as evidenced by their success in their career pathways,” she said.

Ferguson said she remained an active participant in Career Day Development program even after her children graduated.

“This relationship lasted 30-plus, plus years until my retirement,” said Ferguson, who was also was active on the PTA at Stuyvesant High School and was a member of the Parent Advisory Council at the Hotchkiss Boarding.

“Community service has been a rewarding experience for me,” she added. “Personally, this involvement makes me treasure the memories of my parents. This is my tribute to keeping their dreams alive, just like the song: ‘If I can help somebody as I pass along, then my living will not be in vain.’

“The experiences I gained from community service keep me focused on the value of life,” Ferguson continued. “So many things we take for granted. And just being out in the community, hearing and seeing the impact on the lives of those who are less fortunate, gives me strength to face another day.”

But she admitted that, sometimes, she becomes overwhelmed by the suffering of others, “wanting to do whatever I can to alleviate the needs.”

“Community service requires a strong faith in God,” Ferguson said. “No amount of money can compensate for the work and time given to assist others. Only by the word of God your reward will be assured.

“As written in the bible, ‘if you do it unto the least of them, you do it unto me,’” she said, pointing to some benefits of her community involvement.

“It keeps me active – physically, mentally, spiritually – and enhances my compassion towards fellowmen,” Ferguson added. “Through socialization in community events, I obtain meaningful friendship and valuable connection to political associates. I obtain important information to share with friends and family.

“Community service gives me the opportunity to know that I can improve someone’s life; make my community a better place to live, which will reflect the direct impact of my work,” she continued.