Dan Ford is President of Alderson-Ford & Buckmiller Ford Mengacci Funeral Homes and a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner through the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice. He currently serves as President of the National Funeral Directors Association, representing over 20,000 funeral directors nationwide, and is a past Trustee of the Funeral Service Foundation, the charitable arm of NFDA dedicated to investing in people, programs, and resources that strengthen funeral service and support grieving communities. He is a member of the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association, where he has served as both Treasurer and President, and is a former member of the Visiting Advisory Board for the New England Institute of Mortuary Science at Mount Ida College in Dedham, MA.

Dan’s career in funeral service began soon after high school and has been defined by dedication, education, and service to his community. He attended Holy Cross High School in Waterbury before graduating from Naugatuck High School in 1992. Just twelve days later, he enrolled at the former New England Institute at Mount Ida College in Dedham, MA, where he earned a degree in science. He served his apprenticeship at the former Tomlinson Funeral Homes in Danbury and New Fairfield. In 1997, Dan returned to Alderson’s and later attended Naugatuck Valley Community College in Waterbury, where he studied Fire Science. He is also an Eagle Scout, having earned the award as a member of Troop 102 in Naugatuck.

Alongside his work in funeral service, Dan devoted much of his career to public safety. He began his service with the Naugatuck Volunteer Ambulance Corps, where he held the positions of Lieutenant and President. He later served with the Naugatuck Volunteer Fire Company and also worked with Medstar Ambulance/American Medical Response of Waterbury. In 1997, he became a career firefighter with the Naugatuck Fire Department, a role he held for 11 years until retiring in October 2008. During that time, he served as Union Vice-President for Naugatuck Firefighters Local 1219, co-chaired the department’s “Toys for Kids” annual Christmas toy drive for children in Naugatuck and Beacon Falls, and was honored as Naugatuck Firefighter of the Year in 2007.

After retiring from the Naugatuck Fire Department, Dan continued his service with the Cheshire Fire Department, holding positions as Lieutenant, Assistant Chief, Deputy Chief, and President of the organization. In 2013, he was recognized as the Department's Firefighter of the Year and received the Willy Grove Award. Dan is also a member of the Waterbury Area Fire Chiefs, where he has served as both Vice-President and President.



Dan’s commitment to community extends well beyond his public safety work. He is a member of the Naugatuck B.P.O.E. 967 Lodge of Elks and a past Board Member of the Naugatuck Chapter of the American Red Cross. He has coached Little League Baseball at both Peter J. Foley and Union City Little Leagues in Naugatuck and has been actively involved with the Greater Waterbury Relay for Life benefiting the American Cancer Society, co-chairing registration and serving as past chairman of corporate sponsorship.

In addition, he is a former member of the Cheshire Exchange Club, a former Board Member for the Cheshire Chamber of Commerce, and a communicant of St. Bridget Church in Cheshire. Dan was named Executive Vice President of Alderson-Ford Funeral Homes in July 2008 and became President in May 2014. Dan and his wife Danielle have two children, Ryan and Emma, and reside in Cheshire.