LEWIS 360° – The blog of global communications agency, LEWIS PR

PR blog covering communications trends, social media and more

Suzy Ferguson

Family request for memories:

Suzy’s family has requested stories, anecdotes and messages from all those who knew and loved Suzy as a colleague, client or friend. These will become pages in a book of memories that they can cherish in the years to come. To help coordinate this, we have set up one email address and will pass on every message sent to this over the coming weeks.

Please send through anything you would like to be included to: suzymemories@lewispr.com

Many thanks

Suzy Ferguson
I’m afraid I have some terrible news to report – our friend, colleague and fellow Partner, the lovely Suzy Ferguson died peacefully today (26/07/12), aged just 31.

‘The Ferg’ joined us in 2003 as a graduate. With her combination of leadership and energy, she rapidly climbed the ladder. Clients loved her. Staff loved her. She made Partner quickly and went on to become one of the best-loved leaders in the business.

Love was something that actually defined both her work and her domestic life. She gave everyone she knew so much love.

This is what endures as a testament to her parents and family. You can’t pass on that amount of love unless you have it to spare. Our condolences and thoughts are with them at present. Our thanks for Suzy will be with them forever.

It was no surprise that Suzy gravitated towards finding, nurturing and retaining talent. Many of our most brilliant people came from her ability to spot ‘one of us’ and to ensure they got the most from the training structures she herself developed.

Suzy was diagnosed about two years ago with an aggressive form of cancer. Typically, she went through the surgery and chemotherapy with a cheerfulness that was an inspiration.

Any company is the sum total of the personalities it attracts. Foremost among ours was the inimitable Suzy Ferguson. Her contribution to our lives is one of her many legacies that we will treasure.

The company once had account teams named after London Tube stations. Suzy named her team ‘The Angels’ for their Islington origins.

Tonight, the light in our world is diminished. We draw strength though that in another, the light is more radiant as Suzy joins a new team of angels.

A Personal Message From Chris: YouTube Preview Image

 

LEWIS PR offers services spanning PR and media relations, social media marketing, search engine optimization and digital content production. Find Out More About Working With Us

  • http://twitter.com/GuyClapperton GuyClapperton

    This is terrible news. I worked with Suzy a number of times and can confirm she was one of those professional, pleasant and helpful people who understood the needs of the journalist and made working life a pleasure. I’m really saddened by this.

    My thoughts are with her family who I didn’t know and of course her colleagues, many of whom I do. RIP Suzy – this should have been 50 years from now.

    • http://twitter.com/largeburrito Chris Lewis

       Thanks Guy. I will pass this on to her parents.

  • Ilona

    A terrible loss. Truly one of the good guys. Humbled by her strength and positivity. At work you would never have known she was ill. So sorry for all those around her whose lives are a poorer place without her. Words just aren’t enough. RIP Suzy.

    • http://twitter.com/largeburrito Chris Lewis

       Thanks Ils. She was wonderful and truly inspirational.

  • Rachel Harnden

    As we’re in the business of words, here are a few that I
    would use to describe Suzy: kind, impressive, inspiring, selfless, amazing.

    It was a joy to work with her.

    Sincere condolences to her loving family, friends and all at
    Lewis PR.

    From the team at Progress Software (one of those clients who loved her)

    • Sally O’Neill

      Thank you for such kind words, Rachel. 

      Suzy loved working with you and the Progress team and was asking about the campaign only last week. She was always full of ideas and saw everything as an opportunity. Her mantra was ‘Make it happen!’ and I think you’ll agree, she always did. 

    • http://twitter.com/largeburrito Chris Lewis

       Thanks Rachel. I will make sure this is passed on to Suzy’s husband and family.

  • Neil Morgan

    So sorry to hear the sad news that Suzy has left us. 
    Aside from being one of the top professionals in the business, as a client I drew inspiration from her candour, wit and a great sense
    of humour.  Such a genuine person who really made
    it fun to work together.  We will
    miss her a great deal, but draw inspiration from what she taught us.  Neil, on behalf of Omniture.

    • Andres Wittermann

      Thanks for your very kind words, Neil.

      It is amazing how much of an impact Suzy had on all of us. Her life was way too short, but if it is any consolation, it is all the good memories everyone has of her. This is how she will live on forever.

    • http://twitter.com/largeburrito Chris Lewis

       Thanks Neil. I will pass on your condolences to her parents and family.

  • Annette

    So very sad. On behalf of the CTCT UK team our condolences to the LewisPR “family”. She will be missed. It was a pleasure having her on our team if only for a short time. RIP Suzy.

    • http://twitter.com/largeburrito Chris Lewis

       Thanks Annette and thanks to your team for the messages.

  • http://twitter.com/KevWithnall Kevin Withnall

    I feel I’ve known Suzy for years and felt that we would be knowing Suzy for many years to come. The shock of realising this is not to be the case is overwhelming and supports the contention that living for the moment has to be our credo. We will miss Suzy dreadfully, both from a corporate and, most tellingly, from a personal perspective. My thoughts go out to her family, her friends and her colleagues. We will all remember her.  

    • http://twitter.com/largeburrito Chris Lewis

       Thanks Kevin. I will ensure these sentiments are passed on to her family.

  • Emrysbaird

    Just heard the saddening news.I’m glad she got to do the gig and I will remember her being so jolly despite her illness. My sincere condolences Emrys

    • http://twitter.com/largeburrito Chris Lewis

       Thanks mate. She had very happy memories of us all playing together.

  • Suzy Worbey

    Suzy was once my Account Director but grew to become my friend very quickly. I’ve struggled to find the right words to write as its so very sad but I take some comfort in the fact that she is no longer in pain and I hope that her family find the strength from somewhere to keep going in this difficult time. She was one of life’s nice people and her loss to all her friends, family and colleagues is evident. Rest in peace Suzy x

    • http://twitter.com/largeburrito Chris Lewis

       Thanks for your kind words Suzy.

  • Alan Fisher

    Incredibly well said Chris, I was at school with Suzy and have kept strong links with her and her husband Alex over the intervening time. Everywhere Suzy went and with everything she was involved in she brought her own kind of beauty and energy. It’s fitting that rather than sharing a sense of loss we will be sharing our memories and experiences of Suzy in a way that perpetuates that sense of beauty, energy and wonder. If everyone could find a part of themselves that adopts Suzy’s incredible strength, inspiring selflessness and her faith in herself and other people, the world would benefit greatly.

    • http://twitter.com/largeburrito Chris Lewis

       Thanks Alan.

  • Miriam Myers

    This is such a sad loss, working with Suzy was genuinely a lovely person, always friendly and I always enjoyed our chats and her enthusiasm for Lewis PR. Still seems strange that someone so young and lovely is no longer with us and my thoughts are with her family

  • http://www.facebook.com/cyril.moloney Cyril Moloney

    I just became aware of Suzy’s passing. I remember when she came to Lewis as a graduate, all energy and fun. I knew then she would succeed at whatever she did. Please pass on my sympathies to her husband, family and colleagues. Seems so unfair.