Russell Ford

After moving to Cape Cod in 1974, he dedicated four decades of service to the Cape Cod Baseball League. From 1978-83, Mr. Ford served as Cape League president and during that span helped foster the growth and popularity of the league. During his tenure as League president, Mr. Ford and CCBL executives gained support from Major League Baseball to switch from aluminum to wooden bats, the use of which continues to this day. In 2002 Ford was elected to the CCBL Hall of Fame, along with fellow inductees Buck Showalter, Ron Darling, Nomar Garciaparra and Jason Varitek. The outstanding relief pitcher in the CCBL is called the Russ Ford Award in his honor.

From 1958 to 1961, Mr. Ford served as city planning director at Skidmore, Owings and Merrill where he worked on the early phase of development of the World Trade Center. A graduate of Yale University, class of '45, and the Yale School of Architecture, class of 1951, Mr. Ford and the late Taylor Gates, partners in the firm of Gates & Ford, designed homes in New Canaan, Conn., several of which are on Connecticut's current list of Historical Mid-Century homes. Mr. Ford is a past president of the Ox Ridge Hunt Club in Darien, Conn.

During World War II, at age 22, Lt. Russell Ford piloted an A-26 bomber in the European campaign, earning the Air Medal for meritorious achievement and heroism, the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism and the Purple Heart.

His wife of 57 years, Hope McWilliam Ford, died in September 2002. He is survived by his son, Russell Jr. of Westport, Conn.; daughters Holly Ridgway of Chester, Conn., Lucia Ford of West Groton, and Catharine Daly of Dover; and six grandchildren.

Mr. Ford generously supported numerous national and local charities.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, at Church of the Holy Spirit, 204 Monument Road, Orleans.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests one of the two following charities: The Orleans Athletic Association/Cardinals, c/o Dave Mitchell, P.O. Box 521, Orleans, MA 02653, to benefit the players and coaches of the baseball team; or The Orleans Conservation Trust, P.O. Box 1078, East Orleans, MA 02643-1078.