Benson A. Ford

Passed away Wednesday, January 21, 2015 in Berkeley, at 84 years of age. Benson died suddenly while doing what he loved: running at the UC Berkeley track. He was a native Jamaican, the eighth of thirteen children born to Rufus A. and Amy Maxwell Ford, and a resident of Berkeley for over 60 years. Benson was well known as a designer and builder of beautiful redwood homes in the Berkeley, Oakland, and Kensington hills, and as a life-long athlete. He was a member of the 1952 Jamaican Olympic track team, and played cricket in the Northern California Cricket League for about 30 years, before returning to Masters and Senior’s track, usually as a 100- and 200-meter sprinter. Member, First Presbyterian Church, Berkeley. Survived by his life partner of 35 years, Jill Moak of Berkeley; her children, Nathan Fall and Molly Fall; daughter, Jacqueline Ford of Paris, France; sons, Michael Ford and his wife, Louann of Campbell, and Bindu Frank of New York City; grandchildren, Christi Spencer and her husband, Michael of Gilroy, Bethany Monthaven and her husband, Jacob of Santa Cruz, and Aaron Ford and David Ford, both of Campbell; great-grandchildren, Skylar, Justin, and Ronan; and numerous sisters, brothers, nieces, and nephews.

Private memorial services have already been held. Memorial donations, if desired, may be made to UC Berkeley Track Team, University of California, Cal Track Team, Berkeley CA 94720-4422 (online at https://give.berkeley.edu/egiving/index.cfm?fund=FF0530000). Please indicate that your gift is in memory of Benson A. Ford.