Guy Ford was a vital leader of AFF (American Family Foundation - the former name of International Cultic Studies Association) during its crucial first decade, when the organization's survival often hung by a thread.  Guy organized our first advisory board meeting in 1981 at Dunfey's on Cape Cod and, because of his peerless management skills, ran our advisory board meetings for many years thereafter.   His counsel helped us maintain organizational discipline and find our niche in this field.  He understood the cult field from the perspective of a parent who struggled to get his daughter, Wendy, out of the Way International.  But he also understood the field from the perspective of an executive who was always aware of the difference between good intentions and achievement and the complex process by which the former produces the later.  Those of us who worked with him learned from him.  And we enjoyed and admired his humanity and down-to-earth wisdom.  The obituary below touches on his many other accomplishments.  We were so very fortunate to have been able to rely on him during our organization's precarious early years.

Michael D. Langone, Ph.D.

 

PEABODY / MARBLEHEAD – Guy B. Ford, former Vice President of Industrial Relations for 20 years at the Gillette Safety Razor Company, passed away March 22 of natural causes. Providing a “moral compass” Guy’s wise counsel was often sought. Guy was also an author, sailor, skier, tennis player, and avid saltwater fisherman. He served as a lieutenant B-24 bomber pilot in the US Army Air Forces WWII. He is survived by his wife, Dolly, and 7 children, 6 grandchildren, 4 siblings and their spouses.

Born in 1922 a native of Owenton, KY Guy Barrett Ford was born in the middle of six sisters. His father, born during the Civil War, was 61 when Guy was born. Colonel Robert Carrick Ford was an entrepreneur, former US Marshall for Eastern KY, and on the legislative staff of the late Governor James M. McCreary. His mother, Florrie Garrard Rodman, was a belle of KY. Guy was the stepbrother of Owenton County Attorney Robert C. Ford Jr., and brother of Owenton Circuit Judge James R. Ford.

Guy grew up in the days before running water and of getting first to the washtub. Chores and clean living made up his life as he considered becoming a Baptist preacher. He graduated from Owenton High School in 1940 tied as salutatorian of his class. He was a member of the National Honor Society and the basketball team and represented OHS in extemporaneous speaking.

After high school he was a B-24 bomber pilot in the Army Air Forces for three years in WWII and was released to inactive duty as a lieutenant. He moved to New York and entered Columbia University on the GI bill where he graduated in 1949. A memorable part time job was guide at the World’s Fair with his brother, later Judge James R. Ford.

In September 1948 he married Dolly Elfleda Preston of Mount Vernon, NY whose father had been a pioneer of airship development during WWI. Dolly had been a reporter and was public relations director of the Hotel Gramatan in Bronxville, NY. They settled in NY later moving to Wayne, PA as the family and opportunities grew.

Guy worked for The Vertol (Piasecki helicopters) division of Boeing doing Personnel work and later joined the Pennsylvania Railroad as Manager of Salary Administration. In 1962 the family moved to NJ when Guy took a job as Manager of Training at R. H. Macy & Co. Department Stores. Implementing a successful training program and lured by his former boss, Guy moved on to Boston, MA in 1964 joining Filene’s, part of Federated Department Stores, as head of personnel and labor relations. In 1968 he was appointed to the newly created position of Vice President of Industrial Relations for the Gillette Safety Razor Company where he remained until retirement 20 years later.

He is the author of both “Building a Winning Employee Team” published by the American Management Association and co-authored with Jim Black “Front Line Management” published by McGraw Hill.

Guy’s civic contributions were many and his advice was often sought. In 1970 he worked with Junior Achievement of Eastern Massachusetts as General Chairman of the fund raising campaign. For a few years in the early 1980s Guy served along with other Boston senior executives on the Advisory Council for the Harvard Extension School's graduate management program. He helped to found two still vital and leading organizations: The Sportsmen’s Tennis Club for inner city youth and the International Cultic Studies Association (formerly the American Family Foundation).

He played handball, squash, and tennis; enjoyed skiing at King Ridge in NH and sailboat racing off Marblehead. From 1991-1992 Guy was Commodore of the Corinthian Yacht Club in Marblehead where he and Dolly have been members for over 40 years. A voracious reader and an avid sports fisherman, Guy was very well known for finding the blues and striped bass and sharing them generously with friends. For many years after retirement, Guy and Dolly wintered in Jupiter, FL. In 2003 they moved to Brooksby Village Retirement Community in Peabody where Dolly resides in Renaissance Gardens.

Visiting hours are Friday March 30 from 4-8pm. Funeral is Saturday March 31 at 10am at Church of St. Andrew, 135 Lafayette St., Marblehead, MA. Luncheon reception immediately following. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Interment is private following the reception at Dell Park Cemetery, Natick, MA.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sportsmen’s Tennis Club, 950 Blue Hill Ave, Dorchester Center, MA 02124, (617) 288-9092; or the International Cultic Studies Association, P.O. Box 2265, Bonita Springs, FL 34133, Telephone: (239) 514-3081. Arrangements under the care of the Eustis-Cornell Funeral Home, 142 Elm St., Marblehead, MA 781-631-0076.