John R. Ford Obituary – Worcester Telegram & Gazette

John R. Ford of Worcester died on Sunday, June 18, 2023 after a period of failing health. He was born in Boston on October 17, 1932 to John T. and Mary A. (Sliney) Ford.

John grew up in Somerville and graduated from Matignon High School in Cambridge in 1950. He continued his education and graduated from Boston College in 1954 and then the Boston College School of Social Work in 1961. John was a proud double eagle and Chairman of the class of 1954 for many years until his death. He is a veteran of the United States Army and was stationed in Germany during the Korean Conflict.

John began his career at Swift and Company in Boston moving to Baltimore with Swift. He left the “for profit world” in Baltimore becoming a probation officer. Following the receipt of his MSW he moved to Niagara Falls New York where he worked in the United Way. Moving to Central MA he became the founding Executive Director of both the Fitchburg Community Action Council and the Montachusett Opportunity Council in Leominster.

In Worcester, he was Executive Director of the Model Cities Program and an Assistant City Manager under Mr. Francis McGrath. Following his work for the City, he began working for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Mental Health in Worcester and in Boston. He ended his full-time work life as Undersecretary for the Department of Health and Human Services. When John retired as Undersecretary in 2001 the then Worcester Telegram and Gazette ran a story on him and his career. At the end of the story he was quoted as saying:

“Ás I look back over my career, I’m glad that I spent it in human services and health care, because even though I’ve been a manager or bureaucrat for most of my career, I always felt that what I was doing was important for disadvantaged people”, he said “That is how my parents brought me up.”

John was involved in a number of community organizations over the years. Most recently, he was on the board and treasurer of the Bridge, which became Open Sky Community Services in Worcester. He was also a member of St. Paul Cathedral Parish. In his spare time, he loved to play softball and basketball and did so for many years. He was a fan of college sports and had Boston College football season tickets as long as he was able to attend. He and his wife, Jane also enjoyed many musical programs and theater productions. Keeping up on the news of the world around him was also of great interest.

Left behind are his wife of 44 years, Jane McDowell Ford of Worcester; his son John T. Ford and his partner, Lisa Tuttle of Levant, Maine; his daughter, Julie A. Marceau of Fitchburg; his granddaughters Janine and Collette Marceau of Fitchburg and Gardner with whom he shared many adventures back in the day; and the joy of his later years his great granddaughter Adrianna Rose Wells. John was a loving, hands-on father and grandfather. He also leaves his nieces, Kate Whouley and Seanne Sullivan and nephews, Justin Ford, Joshua Ford and Geoffrey Sullivan.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his brother Robert and his wife, Charlotte and his sisters Anne Ford and Rosemary Sullivan. Rosemary died June 7th of this year.

The family would like to thank the staff at St. Francis Rehab and Nursing Center for their loving care of John during his last months and the staff from Trinity Hospice who assisted John on his final journey including Turbo the pet therapy dog who made him smile at each visit.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for him on Tuesday, June 27, 2023 at 11:00 AM in the Cathedral of St. Paul 15 Chatham Street (Corner of Chatham & High). A calling hour will be held beginning at 10:00 AM in the church. Following cremation, burial will be at a later date in St. Leo’s Cemetery, Leominster.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions in memory of John be made to Open Sky Community Services 4 Mann St. in Worcester 01602 or www.openskycs.org

Alfred Roy & Sons Funeral Home 12 Hammond St. Worcester is directing arrangements. To share a memory of John or to sign his online guestbook, please visit www.Royfuneral.com