David Ferguson, a resident of Pacific Palisades since 1997, died on March 8 at St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica after a short but valiant battle with colon cancer. He was 53. Born in the Highlands of Scotland, David grew up in Inverness and attended Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen and South Bank University in London. He graduated as a Royal Chartered Surveyor, then moved into architecture and became partner at Peter Bell & Associates in London. In 1980, while touring the United States, David visited Aspen, Colorado, where he met his wife, Barbara. By 1983, he had moved to Los Angeles and was quickly making an impact in the real estate world. His architectural work at Kamnitzer & Cotton Architects and D2 Designs, his role as vice president of development at Thomas Safran & Associates and his leadership as executive director of the Corporation for Better Housing enabled him to design and create nearly 4,000 affordable rental units throughout Southern California during his 22-year career. Always ready with a joke and a wink, David was at all times charming, patient and humorous’traits that earned him many hearty friendships and lasting business associates. Honoring his European roots, David worked and played hard and could occasionally be found wearing a kilt. His fond memories of Aspen recently inspired the family to purchase a vacation home in Park City, Utah, where he spent a few wonderful seasons skiing, hiking, and befriending all who met him. He is survived by his wife, Barbara; daughter Emma and son Kyle; his father Adam; brother Donald (wife Annette) and sister Catherine (husband Alan). To honor his love of the beach and Southern California in particular, and in place of a funeral service, David’s life was celebrated at the Jonathan Beach Club in Santa Monica on March 15.
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