Ford was born in 1949 in Elizabeth, New Jersey to Hugh and Winifred Livengood, and he grew up in Hillside. He attended the Pingry School, Allegheny College, and Rutgers Law School. Before law school, he worked for the New York City Planning Commission. He served as an Assistant Prosecutor in the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office from 1980-2007, working alongside colleagues he loved in Newark, a city he cared about deeply. At the Prosecutor’s Office, Ford met Geri Livengood, his wife. They would have been married for 40 years in April; theirs was a loving partnership filled with gratitude and happiness. They have two children, Rebecca and James, whom they raised in South Orange. Ford, an enthusiastic and excellent cook, made dinner for the family every night. After retiring from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, Ford worked as a criminal defense attorney and coached trial advocacy at Rutgers Law School-Newark.
He was an active member of the Episcopal Church. He served on the vestry and as the senior warden at St. Andrew and Holy Communion Church in South Orange, and then on the vestry at Christ Church, Newton. With the Episcopal Diocese of Newark, Ford served on the Commission on Ministry, the Ecclesiastical Court, and as the Church Attorney.
He loved sailing and was a member of Raritan Yacht Club from 2005-2018. He and Geri spent many happy weeks on the Raritan Bay, Chesapeake Bay, and Long Island Sound, enjoying companionable silence, exacting weather observation, and hours talking with family and friends.
He is survived by his wife and children; his daughter-in-law Sara Livengood and his son-in-law Nathaniel Wenstrup; his four grandchildren; his sister Becky; and many nieces, nephews, in-laws, and friends whom he loved so much. He was predeceased by his brother John. To know Ford was to know that a wise, steady, and warm friend was available, day or night, for lifting up, bailing out, and cheering on. He will be missed.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 25, at 11am, at Christ Episcopal Church, 62 Main Street, Newton, New Jersey, 07860. Memorial donations may be made to Christ Church or to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Jersey.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Smith-McCracken Funeral Home 63 High St. Newton, NJ 07860. Online condolences may be made to wwwsmithmccrackenfuneralhome.com
