Frederic Hugh Ford passed away in his Somerset, NJ home on February 15, 2024, 10 days after his 85th birthday. Fred was born February 5, 1939, in Woonsocket, RI, the son of Robert S. Ford and Catherine Hudson (Ford).
Fred had been a choral conductor and educator, working primarily in the college setting, for more than 30 years. He graduated from Burrillville High School, RI at the age of 16, and one year later from Mt. Hermon School, MA. He began at Harvard College focusing on Engineering, but quickly realized that his passion for the Krokodiloes and Harvard Glee Club was seated in his love of choral music, and changed his concentration to Music studies, graduating in 1960 with a bachelor’s degree in music. He was a member of Winthrop House and the Harvard Class of 1960. While earning his Master of Arts in Education (received in 1962) from the Harvard School of Education, he was able to join the Harvard Glee Club as their assistant director for their Far Eastern Tour in 1961.
When enlisting in the Navy Reserve, Fred requested duties in Japan as a result of the love of all things Japanese that was kindled on the Glee Club tour. He was assigned as a minesweeper officer based in Sasebo, Japan for three and a half years.
Upon his return home, Fred enrolled at the State University of New York (SUNY) Buffalo, receiving his M.A. in 1969. It was in Buffalo that he met his wife Kathleen. Fred and Kathy were married in 1968. They raised their daughter Amy and son Geoff in Crawfordsville, IN, where Fred taught at Wabash College while also working towards the completion of his PhD in Music History (received from SUNY Buffalo in 1989).
Music motivated Fred’s career as singer, pianist, conductor, coach, and teacher. He conducted choruses and taught music history and theory at the University of Virginia, SUNY Buffalo, Wabash College, and Rutgers University. After his long years as a college professor, he tied up his career with 15 joyous years of choruses and support for theater productions at Bridgewater Raritan NJ High School. Fred earned a Governor’s Award for Teaching and a Somerset County Award for Excellence in the Arts, and also conducted Mixed and Women’s Honor Choirs and the 2007 NJ All-State Chorus.
Fred continued working with the Harvard Glee Club Alumni group, acting as Director on four separate tours returning to their Far Eastern Tour locations, including Tokyo/ Kyoto, Nagasaki, and Sendai.
Fred was treasured by his Harvard & Radcliffe Classes of 1960 classmates for organizing and leading a chorus, made up primarily of classmates, that sang at several of their quinquennial reunions.
Fred was a long-time member, and some-times state President of the American Choral Director's Association, a group he highly valued for the comradery and musicality. He led the efforts to run the 2000 ACDA national convention in Baltimore, an event he was rightfully proud to have organized.
Fred shared his joy and wonder of music not only professionally, but also through his church, the Unitarian Society (of East Brunswick), his living community where Fred enjoyed sharing his glorious piano playing with his fellow residents in the annual Variety Show, and with every person lucky enough to strike up a musical conversation with him.
There was not a baby he wouldn’t play peek-a-boo with, not a song he wouldn’t harmonize to, not a stranger he wasn’t ready to make an acquaintance or a friend. It was impossible for him to put down a crossword puzzle or walk away if a television set was on. His humor, his kindness, his intelligence and his warmth will be missed by all.
Surviving relatives include Kathy, Fred’s cherished wife and companion of fifty-five years, his daughter Amy and son-in-law Patrick, his son Geoff and daughter-in-law Jasmine; his brother Bob and sister Susan; his six grandchildren and multiple nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grand nephews. A musical memorial will be arranged for late spring, 2024, to include some of Fred’s favorite choral pieces. All will be welcome. More to be shared via his Facebook page.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, please make contributions in Fred’s name to either East Millstone First Aid Squad (https://emfas52.org/donate) or Community Food Bank of New Jersey (https://cfbnj.org/).
Adapted from the obituary appearing on the Legacy website.
