Mr. Ford was born in Waterbury on January 3, 1946, a son of the late William T. and Olive E. (Warner) Ford. He was educated in local schools and graduated from Naugatuck High School, Class of 1964. He attended college in Boston and graduated from the New England Institute of Funeral Service in Boston, Class of 1968.
Following graduation, he began his apprenticeship at the C. H. Green Funeral Home, where he had worked part-time since he was 16 years old. He became associated with Alderson Funeral Homes, Inc. in May 1970, where he completed his apprenticeship. In October of that same year, he was named Manager of the Naugatuck Home and became a partner in 1983.
In 1987, John and his two partners, Jay Anthony and John J. Martin, III (1953-2001), purchased the business from Mr. Alderson. Mr. Martin passed away in 2001, and Mr. Ford became the sole owner of the funeral homes in 2007. He retired from full-time service in 2014 and sold the business to his son Daniel. Mr. Ford was named Chairman of the Board of Alderson-Ford Funeral Homes at that time.
He is a communicant of St. Francis of Assisi Church, serves as a Minister of the Eucharist and an usher, and is a former member of the Parish Council. He also served on the Buildings and Property Committee. He was a member and former Chairman of the Men’s Retreat League and formerly served as an instructor in the R.C.I.A. program.
He has also served as a member of the Board of Directors and Vice-Chairman of the St. Francis School Foundation. He serves as a Regional Vice-President of the Holy Family Passionist Retreat League of West Hartford, responsible for greater Waterbury and the Naugatuck Valley.
He was a member and Past-President of the former Kiwanis Club of Naugatuck, a former member and Past-President of the Naugatuck Volunteer Fire Department, a founding former member and Past-President of the Naugatuck Volunteer Ambulance Corps, and a former member and Past-Captain of the Naugatuck Fire-Police. He was also a member and three-term Chairman of the Naugatuck Board of Fire Commissioners and previously served 11 terms as Chairman of the Public Works-Street Commission.
He was an active volunteer for more than 45 years with the former Naugatuck Chapter of the American Red Cross, having served several terms as Chairman of the Board of Directors and as Chairman of Disaster Services for 17 years. He was also a former member of the Board of Directors of the United Way of Naugatuck and Beacon Falls, Inc., and previously served on the Campaign Cabinet as Chairman of the Professional Division, Vice-Chairman of the 2005 Campaign, and Chairman of the 2006 Campaign. He is presently a member of the Salem Society of the United Way.
Mr. Ford is a member and past Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Naugatuck Chamber of Commerce, having also served as Treasurer and Vice-Chairman. He was a 15-year member of the Naugatuck Economic Development Commission, where he served as Chairman and Secretary.
He was also a member of the Beacon Valley Grange #103, a Life Member of the Naugatuck Historical Society, and a 51-year Life Member of the Naugatuck Lodge of Elks #967, where he formerly served as a Trustee. He is a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians of Naugatuck and the Naugatuck Rotary Club, where he formerly served as President.
He is also a member of the Board of Trustees and Sexton of the Riverside Cemetery Association of Waterbury and a former member of the Board of Directors of the Cheshire Hillside Cemetery Association. He is also a member of the Hundred Club of Connecticut.
Mr. Ford was a member of the former Advisory Board of the Naugatuck Adult Education Program and a former member and Vice-Chairman of the Naugatuck Youth Services Advisory Board. He is a former Treasurer of the Ecumenical Conference of Churches of Naugatuck and Beacon Falls and has been active in many of its programs.
He is a former member of the Board of Trustees of the Waterbury Division of the Connecticut Mental Health Association and a former volunteer with the Peter J. Foley Little League, where he served as Umpire-in-Chief of the Minor Leagues for several years.
Having been active in various school organizations, he was a Past Co-President of the Salem School Parent School Association and, along with his wife, was a founding Co-President of the Hillside Middle School Parent-Student-Teacher Group, C.A.R.E. (Concerned Adults Relate to Education). He was also a Past Co-President of the Parent-Teacher-Student Group at Naugatuck High School and a Past President of the Naugatuck Parent School Council. He also served as a member of the Naugatuck School-To-Career Partnership Action Team/Advisory Board.
Ford was active in many Masonic organizations, with memberships in Shepherd-Salem Lodge #78, A.F. & A.M.; the Naugatuck Fellowcraft Association; the Scottish Rite Bodies, Valley of Waterbury, including Doric Lodge of Perfection, Ionic Council-Princes of Jerusalem, and Corinthian Chapter-Rose Croix; and the York Rite Bodies, including Cyrus Chapter #45, Royal Arch Masons of Torrington; Buel Council #20, Royal & Select Masters of Litchfield; New Haven Commandery No. 2, Knights Templar; and the Triangle Guard Association of New Haven.
He was also a member of the Lafayette Consistory, 32 Degree, Valley of Bridgeport; Zindah Grotto of Waterbury; Garibaldi Masonic Club of Connecticut; Police Square Club of Connecticut; Pyramid Shriners of Milford; Naugatuck Shrine Club; Kaaban’s Shrine Club of Plymouth; Dimaryp Court #66, Royal Order of Jesters; Nutmeg Billiken Club; and was a life member of the Kachina Klub of Scottsdale, Arizona.
Mr. Ford was a former member of the Democratic Town Committee and is a Justice of the Peace for the Borough of Naugatuck, as well as a Sub-Registrar of Vital Statistics in Naugatuck, Waterbury, Middlebury, and Cheshire. He was also a member of the National Sheriff’s Association and the New Haven County Sheriff’s Association.
In 1971, the Naugatuck Jaycees honored Mr. Ford with their Distinguished Service Award, and in 1981, he was honored by the Beacon Valley Grange as the recipient of its Citizen of the Year Award. In 1992, the Naugatuck Rotary Club named him a Paul Harris Fellow, and in 1993, the Naugatuck High School Alumni Association named him Alumni of the Year.
In 1994, the Naugatuck Chapter of the American Red Cross presented him with the distinguished Clara Barton Award for Meritorious Volunteer Leadership. In 1995, the Naugatuck Chamber of Commerce presented him with the Lewis A. Dibble Award. In 1996, John and his wife were presented with the Raymond K. Foley Memorial Award by the Parent School Council.
In December 1988, he and his wife Maureen organized the first annual Christmas Day Dinner for residents of the area. They continued to co-chair the event each year, expanding the dinner to include elderly shut-ins and local police and firefighters who could not spend the holiday with their families. They stepped down as co-chairpersons in 1995 but continued to volunteer at the dinner for several years.
Professionally, Mr. Ford was a member of the National Foundation for Mortuary Care and was a member and Past-President of the Waterbury Area Funeral Directors Association. He was also a former Clinical Instructor in Embalming for the New England Institute of Funeral Service at Mt. Ida College.
In 1999, Mr. Ford was certified as a Bereavement Facilitator by the American Academy of Bereavement, sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. In April 2002, following a two-year accreditation process, he earned the certification of CFSP (Certified Funeral Service Practitioner) as a member of the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice.
In October 2006, he earned the certification of CPC (Certified Pre-need Counselor) through the National Funeral Directors Association. He was also certified as a Funeral Celebrant by the Insight Institute of Oklahoma, providing personalized funeral ceremonies for individuals who wished to have an alternative to a religious funeral service.
He is also a member of the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association and, in 1983, was certified through FEMA/NFDA as a Certified Disaster Coordinator for Connecticut and became a member of the Region I DMORT Team of the National Disaster Medical System.
In 1999, he was deployed to Rhode Island with the Region I DMORT Team to assist with the EgyptAir Flight 990 crash, where more than 220 passengers and crew lost their lives. During the 14-day deployment, he was responsible for the setup of the Mobile Morgue and operation of the Family Service Center, where families of the victims were interviewed and basic statistical information and DNA specimens were obtained to assist in identifying the victims.
On September 12, 2002, he was deployed along with DMORT Regions I, II, and IV to assist with the World Trade Center disaster. During the 14-day deployment, he assisted at the Family Service Center at the 126th Street Armory and at Pier 94 for five days before being assigned as Deputy Chief Property Clerk at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. There, he coordinated the receiving of remains and was responsible for the personal property of victims recovered from Ground Zero.
On October 28, 2005, he was deployed to St. Gabriel, Louisiana, to assist at the Family Service Center with families of victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
He was predeceased by his wife, Maureen E. (Hughes) Ford, in 2018 after 47 years of marriage. He has one son, Daniel J. Ford, President of the firm, and his wife Danielle of Cheshire; one daughter, Joanna M. Ford-Segetti of Naugatuck; and three grandchildren, Ryan Nicholas Ford, Emma Ann Ford, and Kyle Jay Segetti.
John W. Ford was trained by Doug Manning and Glenda Stansbury of In-Sight Institute, who pioneered funeral celebrant training in the United States and Canada. As a Certified Funeral Celebrant, John has been trained in the value of the funeral, how to conduct family visits, understanding the importance of personalization of the funeral, elements of funeral service planning, understanding the basic outlines of various types of funeral services as well as sharing all the options available while adhering to The Code of Funeral Celebrant Practices and Ethics. John has the ability to be flexible and creative in helping families incorporate important components in personalizing the funeral. He understands the grief process and respects that everyone grieves differently. He works with the family to ensure that the funeral service, a celebration of life, or a memorial is personalized to reflect the personality and lifestyle of the deceased. He is a graduate of the New England Institute of Funeral Service in Boston, Mass., and has been a licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer in the State of Conn., for over 40 years. He is a Certified Bereavement Coordinator by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondolet of the Carondolet Institute. John brings a wealth of knowledge and understanding combined with compassion and empathy to his calling as a Certified Celebrant.
What Does a Certified Celebrant Offer the Family?
A Celebrant offers an alternative to a service provided by a clergyperson for those families who are not affiliated with a church or who do not wish to have a traditional funeral service. A Celebrant has been specifically trained to design a service that is completely personal, incorporating those unique stories, songs, and experiences that defined the loved one. A Celebrant will meet and chat with family members to share memories, anecdotes, and special moments in the loved one’s life. This will also help the Celebrant to learn about the life of the loved one, how they lived their life, and the type of person they were. The essence of the service will be based upon the remembrances of the family. A Celebrant will offer suggestions on making the service personal and meaningful such as having a family member or special friend present a tribute or eulogy. Additional suggestions may include the presentation of a memorial DVD video tribute. A Celebrant has a library of resources available for readings, music, ceremonies, and personal touches. The Celebrant will consult with the family to help design a service that best reflects and memorialized the life of their loved one. A Celebrant is bound by a Code of Ethics for complete confidentiality in all dealings with the family.
Why Use a Certified Celebrant?
The training for Celebrants established by In-Sight Institute seeks to provide the most comprehensive and sensitive training available for people wishing to develop this as a profession or to add to their current job description. It is important that a family knows that they are being served by someone who understands the process and is prepared to offer the very best and most meaningful funeral possible.
