In Memoriam: Gary Ford
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Gary Ford passed away on July 1, 2026 with his family by his side. He was a long time IACC member who served as Program Chair and SIG Chair. He loved to share his passion and knowledge with others.
Katherine Caine, Gary's longtime friend and IACC member, shares her thoughts. "Gary would want you to know how grateful he was to be a member of this club. In the beginning, he joined because he was lonely. Then he volunteered because he wanted to learn, and along the way, he found a community of like-minded people. Photo Fridays became a ritual. When COVID arrived, he practiced daily with others, helping members become comfortable with Zoom. He had the patience of Job, getting everyone online. He wanted no one left behind. He loved his SIGs and worked tirelessly to learn and prepare opportunities for us to develop new skills. He took such joy in seeing our creativity grow. When Gary got cancer the first time and was hospitalized, I would find him tapping away, working on photo images. He was determined to get a day pass to Aldon Auto Salvage. He didn’t have the strength to walk, but we were told it was okay to drive around. It was a wonderful day seeing what everyone was creating and finding his own images. On the way back, we drove through Elk Island as leaves fell from the trees like golden coins. He kept saying how healing it all was, and he went on to make the most of the next five years. This time, he knew the cancer was terminal. It changed his life. He had to pull back from large groups to avoid germs, and he missed many of our meetings. But he was determined to keep exploring the countryside, always searching for something different to capture with his camera. With his drone, he loved discovering what was hidden in the next field or along the creek. But this spring wasn’t drone-friendly, and neither was the cancer. After a difficult battle, Gary passed on his own terms, with his family around him. When his daughter asked what he thought it would be like on the other side, he simply said, “Discovery.” And then he was gone. We are blessed to have had him as part of our club. Thank you all for your kindness, condolences, and support." |
