Robert J. Ford

Mt. Tremper-

On October 31, 2025 the Catskill Mountains lost a native born son. Robert Ford’s soul was released from his rugged working body.

Robert John Ford, better known as Bob, was born at home during a snowstorm on January 30, 1925 to Mildred Simmons and James S. Ford. Bob’s paternal grandfather John Ford had a grist mill and cider press in Bushnellsville, New York. His father James Ford started Ford’s Garage in Shandaken during the age of Model-T’s. Bob graduated from Fleischmanns High School in 1943. He was the quarterback of the seven man football team. He was attending college for aviation mechanics when he was drafted into the army. An honorably discharged World War II veteran, Bob served his country with distinction in the 1261rst Engineering Division. On the last day of World War II his company was on their way to Germany crossing the caisson bridge over the Rhine River. Bob would recall the American planes flying low overhead and tipping their wings to signal the end of the war. During the delay in returning all the U.S. soldiers to the states, Bob’s outfit was assigned to the rewarding task of helping the Alpine villages of Chamonix, France and Davose, Switzerland unboard their windows. Bob seized the opportunity to ski in both locations. In Davose, the local skiers invited him with “Come on Yank, ski with us.” He skied miles of dry snow unlike anything he ever experienced back home while racing his brother Sid down Simpson’s (Phoenicia) Ski Center.

Two days after returning home from the service, his father drafted him to work at the Ford family garage. Very quickly he met the love of his life, Marilyn Bennett. They married in 1948 and then Bob went to work at the Ford instrument factory in Brooklyn, New York. Not cut out to be a bench work machinist all week, Bob and Marilyn soon returned to Marilyn’s summer home in Oliverea where daughter Deborah was born. Their first son Mark was born while they rented on Main Street in Phoenicia. Bob joined the Carpenter’s Union when it was first established in Big Indian. He retired 25 years later, just in time to help their second son Wayne build his house in Denver, New York. In addition, Bob built his family’s home and his daughter’s home in Mt. Tremper, and doubled the size of his son Mark’s home in Saugerties.

Bob was an excellent mechanic. The only thing he didn’t repair was the “automatic transmission.” Right up until the end of his life, Bob always had some project to work on. He was splitting firewood only 14 days before he passed. Bob was an excellent organic gardener with a passion for growing Beefsteak tomatoes. He was always sharing his best crop with friends and family. Every fall he would make is locally famous sauerkraut for everyone. With his childhood buddies, Bob enjoyed many seasons of deer hunting at the Fox Hollow Hunting camp, a converted school bus. Many of these friends also rode snowmobiles with him. Bob last skied at the age of 87 alongside his granddaughter Marisa. He found that “these new modern skis turned too much.” Bob was well on his way to hiking all of the Catskill Mountain high peaks until arthritis in his knees cut that goal short. Bob spent many a weekend camping with his family in the Adirondacks, with the tow-behind camper that he built. Quite late in his life Bob pursued one last lifelong desire, learning to fly. At 89 Bob took flight lessons. He never desired to fly solo, but did enjoy the gentle joking of his instructor on some of those less than perfect landings.

Throughout his life and above all, Bob loved his wife and children. He set an incredible example of kindness and caring in a life so well-lived. He will be missed by so many. Bob was predeceased by his beloved wife Marilyn in 2008; his daughter, Deborah in 2022, his brother Sid Ford and brother-in-law Floyd Bennett. He is survived by his sons Mark and wife Jody Ford, Wayne and wife Julie Ford, his son-in law Richard Park, grandchildren Matthew and Harley Park, Jennifer (Park) Haaland, Christopher Ford, and Marisa Ford, and great-grandchildren Megan and Sam Haaland. Calling hours for friends and family will be Friday, November 7 from 3-6 p.m. at the E.B. Gormley Funeral Home in Phoenicia. Burial services will be on Saturday, November 8 at 10 a.m. at the Gormley Funeral Home. A reception will follow at the Mt. Tremper Fire Hall. In lieu of flowers, donations in Bob’s name may be made to Hudson Valley Hospice or to the Phoenicia UMC Food Pantry, 29 Church Street, Phoenicia, New York 12464.

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