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George Ferrari

George Ferrari

It started as a day like any other day. George Ferrari, a resident of Meadville, PA, began one day in November 1994 at 7:00AM with service to the Randolph Volunteer Fire Department. As the day wore on, he felt ill and returned home to rest. He slept until 5:00PM that day and then a friend insisted he go to the hospital. It was there that he learned he had suffered a heart attack. He was scheduled for open heart surgery the next day.

While in surgery, George's lifetime of service to others came full circle, as he lay in need of blood generously given by volunteer donors. Having been a blood donor himself in the past, the time had come for George to truly realize the importance of that simple act. He needed 20 pints of blood transfused during his surgery. "I realized what a genuinely lifesaving act it is to donate blood," he comments. "Had people - strangers to me - not taken the time to give blood, I might have died. I might have missed my youngest daughter's wedding, missed seeing my six grandchildren grow-up, missed holidays and special days and regular days."

Since his recovery, George has lived life to the fullest. He enjoys his time with his family, playing basketball, working out at the gym, and playing softball. He is the owner of Meadville Tool and Grinding. He is a member of the Randolph Volunteer Fire Department, and has served as president and assistant chief. He served on the budget committee for the United Free Church of Guys Mills, and was a PENNCREST School Board member. But it is through his involvement with the Meadville Elks Lodge 219 that he continues his commitment to the American Red Cross blood program.

George had been a blood donor since serving in the United States Navy, and worked with the Elks to sponsor regular blood drives with the Red Cross. Although George is no longer eligible to donate blood, he still tirelessly works through the Elks to host blood drives every two months. When possible, he shares his story with others to stand as living proof that blood is a precious, lifesaving resource that is in constant need. And, he shares his story as a way of saying "Thanks" to the anonymous blood donors who saved his life.