Fred Ford

Fred Ford passed away in his Somerset, NJ home on Feb. 15, 2024, 10 days after his 85th birthday.

Fred had been a choral conductor and educator, working primarily in the college setting, for more than 30 years. Fred was born in Woonsocket, RI, the son of Robert S. Ford and Catherine Hudson (Ford). He graduated from Burrillville HS, RI at the age of 16, and one year later from Mt. Hermon School, MA. He began at Harvard 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 with a bachelor’s degree in music. While earning his Master of Arts in Education from 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, he 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 in the based in Sasebo, Japan for three and a half years.

Upon his return home, he enrolled at SUNY Buffalo. 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 he taught at Wabash College while working towards the completion of his PhD in Music History.

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 HS. He 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.

He 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.

He 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, his 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, grand nieces and grand nephews.

A musical memorial will be arranged for late spring, to include some of Fred’s favorite choral pieces and 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) and Community Food Bank of New Jersey (https://cfbnj.org/).
His humor, his kindness, his intelligence, and his warmth will be missed by all.

Reposted from (https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/frederic-ford-obituary?id=54412667)

K59, Fred at the helm, back in polite society

K60 making In the Square with Fred at the piano

Back when I was first updating the archives, probably around 1999 or so, I had a lovely back and forth with Fred about his time in the Kroks.  What I recall is that the Kroks of 1959 were suffering from a bit of a drinking problem, according to Fred, they had been banned from several of the women’s college campuses due to not particularly couth behavior.  The director of the group decided to throw in the towel and quit.

The guys asked Fred to take over.  He said that he would under a few very strict conditions.  One, absolutely no drinking before or during rehearsal.  Two, that they had to be good enough to sign with the Whiffenpoofs within the next year or two.  Several guys quit but those that remained hunkered down and got to work with Fred.

The result was a highly improved group, that in the following year, put out an incredible LP, In the Square.  A first for the Kroks in that in included some instrumental accompaniment.  And, I understand that they did end up singing with the Whiffenpoofs.  Fred brought the Kroks into the modern era.  Within a year, they went to Asia with the Glee Club.  Within another, our first tour to the Caribbean.  And, then a little later, we met Jeff Gutcheon and the Kroks were never the same.

We all owe Fred Ford a huge debt of gratitude.

Steve Dostart, K84 & K85