“The more I got involved at The Children’s Home, the more passionate I became as a board member. How could you not be passionate about this organization?”
Ranny Ferguson has been a dedicated board member of The Children’s Home for many years. Her passion for the organization is unmatched, and she is an extremely active member of the board. Born at St. Francis Hospital and raised in Pittsburgh as the first of four children, Ranny comes from a family of medical professionals. Her father, William Nealon, was a gynecologist, and her mother, Rita Carey Nealon, was one of the first female pediatricians in Pittsburgh, as well as the first physician at The Children’s Home. Ranny’s mother originally wanted to name her Ann after her beloved sister Ann. Ranny’s father wanted to call her Rita after her mother. Finally, they settled on Rita Ann Nealon. Although her full name is Rita Ann Nealon, her parents affectionately nicknamed her Ranny, a name that has stuck ever since.
Ranny’s first job at the age of 16 was as a volunteer at The Children’s Home, which at that time served as an orphanage for children awaiting adoption. She spent her time rocking and feeding babies in need of loving homes. This early experience laid the foundation for her lifelong passion for children. Ranny fondly recalls her parents as the most caring, giving people, both as individuals and as physicians.
Ranny met her husband, Jay Ferguson, after her sophomore year of college. Although she was accepted into Pitt Medical School, she felt a strong calling to become an educator and chose to major in mathematics instead. After graduating on June 2, 1968, Ranny married Jay just 20 days later. She began her teaching career as a second-grade teacher in Plainfield, PA, before returning to Pittsburgh to teach mathematics at the University of Pittsburgh while pursuing her master’s degree. When she learned she was expecting her first child, Melissa, Ranny stepped back from her position at Pitt to focus on tutoring. She continued to tutor throughout the years while raising her children: Melissa, Rob, and Bill.
When Melissa reached school age, she attended the Ellis School in Pittsburgh, where Ranny was approached by the administration to teach mathematics in the upper school. Then a few years later she was asked to develop a computer program for the lower and middle schools. Eager to contribute, Ranny helped develop computer programs for the lower, middle, and upper schools.
In 1996, after her children had graduated, Ranny was invited to join the board of directors of The Children’s Home by board members Elizabeth Hobbs and Elin Roddey. Joining the board felt like a natural step for Ranny, as The Children’s Home had been an integral part of her life since childhood. She reminisces about her mother running clinics throughout the city and receiving calls to attend to babies at The Children’s Home. Ranny recalled how her parents brought gifts for the children during Christmas, and there was no hesitation when she was asked to join the board—she said yes without a second thought. Her mother, Rita, was thrilled.
Initially, Ranny was unsure of what to expect as a board member, thinking she might remain in the background. However, anyone who knows Ranny understands that her warm, welcoming personality would make that impossible. She quickly became involved with the Site Committee and Building Committee. During her time on the board, she served as president, co-chaired two capital campaigns, and participated in multiple gala planning committees. She attended every organizational event and fell deeply in love with the mission of The Children’s Home. From a young age, Ranny was taught that volunteerism and giving back to those less fortunate were essential parts of life.
When asked about her favorite memory of The Children’s Home, Ranny found it difficult to choose just one because there are so many cherished moments. One that stands out is when her mother attended the opening of the “new” Children’s Home on Penn Avenue. A painting titled “The Secret,” which had moved from the old building to the new one, deeply moved Rita. She looked at that painting and told Ranny, “We can no longer be a secret.” Rita loved that painting and adored The Children’s Home, knowing that Ranny would do everything possible to honor her legacy. Ranny is doing just that. At the upcoming Shake Your Booties Gala, The Children’s Home will honor her mother’s legacy by creating the first-ever Rita Carey Nealon Memorial Award. Each year, the Rita Carey Nealon Memorial Award will be given to a pillar of compassion in the community at the Shake Your Booties Gala. Ranny been honoring her parents’ legacy throughout her life. She embodies a life of service, empathy, and grace, quoting her parents: “We come into this world with nothing, and we leave with nothing. How you help and support people is what life is all about.”
Today, Ranny is blessed with seven grandchildren, who are being raised with the same commitment to service and compassion that her mother instilled in her and that she, in turn, has passed on to her children. Like her mother, Ranny is creating a legacy that will benefit others for years to come.