In Memoriam: Regina Ferguson (1958-2026)
By Lynn McCain | February 10
Regina was an integral part of this department and made everyone feel like a friend. Her energy and enthusiasm for service knew no bounds. As we honor her today, we think it best that you hear from some of her closest friends in the department, and enjoy a few photos of her, capturing her in her element.
Peggy Otto, Administrative Specialist Sr.
Regina moved through the world with a light all her own. She was a social butterfly extraordinaire—someone who didn’t just know everyone, but made sure you knew everyone too. Whether in the hallway, at the front door, on the bus, or anywhere across the university, she connected people with an ease and joy that made every space feel a little more welcoming.
She walked with purpose—literally. Regina was the fastest walker I’ve ever known, and I often had to ask her to slow down just so I could keep up. Her daily steps averaged at least 20,000, a number that perfectly matched her energy and drive.
In her work, she was dedicated, conscientious, and unfailingly kind. She had a remarkable gift for making every person feel like the most important one in the room. A gentle smile, a quiet word of encouragement. Regina lifted people up in ways that linger long after the moment passed.
For so many, she was the first face they encountered when entering the department—new faculty, staff, visitors, vendors. She knew every person who walked through the front door and understood exactly why they were there. She made the department feel like home.
But beyond all of this, Regina was more than a colleague. She was my dear friend. Our friendship was immediate and effortless. She often joked about our height difference. She envied my height, and whenever something fell to the floor, she’d laugh and say, “I’ll get it, I’m closer to the ground.” She called herself my “little buddy,” a nickname that still brings a smile even now.
Her family was her greatest inspiration. They meant everything to her, and she spoke of them with pride, love, and unwavering devotion.
There are countless stories I could share—moments of laughter, kindness, and connection—but many of those I will hold quietly and close to my heart. What I can say is this: it was an honor to call Regina my friend. I am profoundly grateful that our paths crossed, even if only for a short time. Her presence made the world brighter, and her memory will continue to do the same.
May her spirit, her kindness, and her joy live on in all of us who were lucky enough to know her.
Shaun Atteberry, Facilities Coordinator
From my very first interview with Regina to our last meeting together a few days before she passed, she always said that Pathology was the best department at the University. This job meant the world to her, and she, clearly, means a lot to us.
Regina was never off the clock. She’d be on vacation in Florida, and she’d be checking e-mails from her hotel. She even had her laptop with her in the hospital this past autumn, running Teams meetings from her room. For the past two years, it wasn’t uncommon that she would see me first thing in the morning and say something like, “I woke up in the middle of the night, and I couldn’t stop thinking about that office move we’re planning.”
She loved taking care of people. She loved helping. She loved solving all of our problems. I sometimes think to myself, “Regina’s going to be so bored in heaven! There won’t be anyone for her to help.” If you stopped her in the hallway and told her about a problem you needed solved, you didn’t have to wait for her to work on it. She would stand right there in front of you and make the call to whoever might be able to fix it for you. She never said, “That’s not our job.” If Regina couldn’t help you, she’d get you in touch with someone who could.
Regina was incredibly compassionate. As much as work meant to her, she was just as willing to hear me talk about my wife and daughters, what I did over the weekend, plans for birthdays or holidays… I think that’s what drove her to do her job so well. She truly cared about us all.
It’s hard to think of things that Regina wasn’t involved in. Maintenance requests, MCards, keys, phones, microscopes, construction projects, equipment installations, office moves, lab decommissionings, property management & disposition, the football ticket raffle, LCC, the Space committee, the Wellness committee, the Facilities User Network committee, and I’m sure several committees I was never aware of.
She was an integral part of what kept this department running, and her passing leaves us with a void that can never be filled. I think a great way to honor her would be simply to help people. Anyone you can.
Jeffrey Myers, MD, Professor Emeritus
I had the privilege of working directly with Regina during her time in the department of pathology. Our interactions included work on specific projects and the sort of unanticipated interactions common in our workplace, since neither one of us was fond of working from home. We frequently found ourselves bumping into one another, given that our offices were co-located in building 30 at NCRC. Like me, she was frequently at work early, which meant good-morning greetings, at a minimum, and occasionally longer conversations depending on whether we had any shared initiatives that were active. It is perhaps only in retrospect that we treasure the sorts of brief, informal interactions in which Regina’s smiles and laughter were a daily source of positive energy!
Regina was our facilities czarina who never failed to get the job done! This often required negotiating with internal and external stakeholders as she effectively navigated the complex decision-making and approval matrices to which our institution subscribes. For example, together with David Golden and affected division directors, Regina and I would do periodic morning walkabouts to identify office space for incoming faculty. Ever efficient, Regina always provided floor maps in advance, highlighting those spaces available for consideration. Our conversations inevitably included real-time creative problem-solving founded on core principles that drove NCRC design from the beginning. Once we had a plan with which all were comfortable, Regina would have things moving by noon. Never once did she fail to follow through on the details, ensuring that affected faculty had input into the final office layout in place at the time of their arrival.
In July, I was blessed with the privilege of working directly with Regina, her husband Steve, and her Michigan Medicine providers to navigate her own journey as a patient. Over the months that followed, this included support and participation from many others in our department. The love, courage, strength, and resilience to which I bore witness over the last few months served not only as inspiration but a reminder of the things that matter most in this world. I have been forever affected by the love from family, friends, and co-workers that carried Regina through some of life’s toughest moments. And as was her nature, none of the challenges got in the way of her finding cause for gratitude and celebration along the way. Co-workers like Regina stand as testimony to the power of our workplace relationships to change our lives forever.
Mike McVicker, Administrator of Clinical Operations
It will always be a personal and professional highlight for me that I hired and retained Regina Ferguson for what turned out to be the final 8 years of her life. When hiring for a facilities coordinator at the end of 2017 there were many highly qualified and skilled managers who would have done well in the position, but I fortunately chose to hire the person and not position (and who could turn down the chair of FUN?) who embodied the ceaselessly helpful, no request too big or small, and kind traits which we’ve all witnessed from Regina during her time here.
Charles Parkos, MD, PhD, Chair of Pathology
Regina was the nicest and best facilities manager ever! She was loved by everyone and will be sorely missed. Moving forward, an annual Regina Award (Reliable, Engaged, Genuine, Impactful, Nurturing, Achiever) is being created to be presented to a deserving staff member in her honor. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family and many friends in this time of grief.
******
A funeral mass will be held:
Date: Monday, February 16, 2026
Time: Welcome and eulogies at 10:50 am; Mass at 11:00 am
Location: Our Lady of Victory Catholic Parish, 133 Orchard Drive, Northville MI 48167
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in Regina’s memory to:
Michigan Medicine Gifts of Art Program
Donate to Arts in Health | Michigan Medicine
Capuchin Soup Kitchen
1820 Mount Elliott St
Detroit, MI 48207
Donate - Capuchin Soup Kitchen
ON THE COVER
ON THE COVER
ON THE COVER
ON THE COVER
ON THE COVER
ON THE COVER
ON THE COVER
ON THE COVER
ON THE COVER
ON THE COVER
ON THE COVER
