Dr. Elinor R. Ford

Dr. Elinor R. Ford, 87, passed away Friday, December 22, 2017, at her home in Fairview. Dr. Ford received her doctorate from Columbia University, New York. She served as Superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese of New York and was the first woman appointed to this system which, at the time, served approximately 200 elementary and 80 secondary schools across ten counties of New York State. Following this she chaired the New York Archdiocesan Council for Religious Education, and established NCEA’s first national Catholic parent organization. At the same time she was a full professor in the graduate education department at Fordham University in New York. While there she directed the graduate program for nonpublic school program administrators, and co-founded with Fr. Vincent Novak, SJ, Chair of Fordham’s Department of Religion and Religious Education, a doctoral program for church leaders. This program attracted students from all parts of the United States, as well as from Australia, Africa and Canada. During this time Dr. Ford was elected to be a trustee of the Middle States Accreditation Association (MSA). While a trustee she was named first chair of MSA’s newly established accreditation process for elementary schools. It had been a long time dream of Elinor’s to have the wonder that is Catholic elementary school recognized by an accrediting agency. As first Chair she saw that many Catholic elementary schools in the Middle Atlantic states and in Europe so approved. After this, Dr. Ford then became publisher, president and chief executive officer of the William H. Sadlier Publishing Company. Elinor has spent the last twenty-five years of her life following another dream - to help create the future leaders of Catholic education in both schools and parishes. She wanted to give a yearning for this task to men and women of courage, commitment and creativity who would risk standing on the shoulders of the giants of Catholic education who went before them, and shape a new and vibrant future for their ministries to our young people. So she partnered with visionary diocesan leaders to teach at the various Catholic universities with whom they have created specific graduate programs for their teachers and catechists to be trained as principals, parish directors of religious education, and other local and diocesan leadership positions. In addition, Elinor was involved with the Catholic stewardship movement to promote among the whole Catholic community the desire to support spiritually and financially the Church’s parish ministries, and especially to provide more of the parish children with Catholic educations. She also served as a long range planning consultant to dioceses, parishes, Catholic schools and hospitals. During these last years she also conducted retreats for principals, teachers, deacons, parishes and clergy. Dr. Ford received many honors and five honorary degrees. In 1995 she was honored by the Canadian Catholic Schools Trustees Association for her contributions to and support of Canadian Catholic education. In 1996 she was given the Monsignor John Meyer award by the National Catholic Educational Association. In 1997 Dr. Ford was named by “Today’s Catholic Teacher” as one of the 25 most influential people in Catholic education in the past 25 years. In 2003 Fordham University awarded her its Catholic Education Executive Leadership Award, and in 2007 the National Catholic Educational Association awarded her its highest award, the St. Elizabeth Seton Presidential Award. In 2015, she was asked, as Fordham University’s Professor Emerita, to be one of eight major speakers for the Schools Division of Pope Francis’ World Congress on Catholic Education, “Education Today and Tomorrow, A Renewing Passion” in Rome Castle Gondolfo, November 18 - 21, 2015. She is survived by her two loving sisters, Dr. Veronica C. Berreen and Irene D. McAuley; numerous nieces and nephews, and two Godchildren, Elinor R. Kern and Charlotte Kruse. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated by the Rev. Fr, Doug May and the Rev. Mr. Michael Zboyovzki at 11:00 a.m. Friday, December 29, 2017, at St. Eugene's Catholic Church, followed by inurnment at St. Eugene's Columbarium. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to one's local Catholic School for scholarships or to one's Catholic Parish Religious Education Program.