Dennis Ford

Dennis G. Ford, a Christian and unrepentant conservative, completed his life journey on December 5, 2023 at his home in Monrovia, Maryland. He is survived by his wife Kathleen and his two daughters Heather Ardell Ford and Rebecca Lynn Ford whom he loved dearly. He also leaves behind his sister Mrs. Stanley Corrine Higgins, his niece and nephew Kim Higgins and Kevin Higgins and their children Peyton, Matt and Shannon and his three brothers-in-law Mike, Kevin and David and their families.

Dennis was born in Cambridge, New York on September 15, 1942 and was raised in Hoosick Falls, New York and Cambridge, New York both great places to grow up in. He attended college in upstate New York starting at SUNY Binghamton where he discovered he was not meant to be a physics major. He regained his academic dignity at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy where he became a lifelong advocate of community colleges. He completed his college education at SUNY Geneseo, later earning his Ph.D. at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse University. It was at Geneseo that he forged a treasured friendship with his DKT fraternity brothers Bob and Pete. He spent his career as an environmental scientist with the Bechtel Corporation and Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) before retiring in 2007. At Bechtel he had the opportunity to work on infrastructure projects in the U.S., Canada and the Middle East. He spent the bulk of his 20 years at SAIC working as a NASA contractor on deep space missions to the Sun, Jupiter, Saturn, Pluto and rover missions to Mars.

Upon retiring from SAIC he enjoyed attempting to play golf with his golf buddies Roy, Dick, Dan and Jorge, shooting trap, and having periodic luncheons with his NASA lunch bunch - Ken, Jorge, Dan, Mark, Sara and Robert, Lasantha, and Sue. Dennis also particularly enjoyed volunteering at the Frederick County Department of Aging (now the Department of Aging and Independence) as a Medicare counselor for over 11 years. He found serving in this capacity providing much needed Medicare assistance to the county's senior community to be one of the most rewarding experiences of his life. With the onset of the COVID pandemic the Department ceased using most of its' volunteers. Dennis greatly missed helping the County's aging deal with their Medicare needs. He also greatly missed the staff he worked most closely with Ellie, Dawn, Sue, Patti, Carolyn, Mary Rice, Mindy, Mary, and Melanie. He also greatly missed the Frederic County seniors he served. Dennis felt blessed to be able to assist them with their Medicare needs.

Dennis loved the history and beauty of Mount Olivet Cemetery in Frederick. He will be interred at Mount Olivet in a private ceremony.

In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to the Frederick Rescue Mission, 419 W. South Street, Frederick, MD 21701 or to Mount Olivet Cemetery, 515 S. Market Street, Frederick, MD 21701.

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