NEW HAVEN — James Robert Ford, 73, died Sunday evening Sept. 20, 2020, at Porter Medical Center after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.
He was born Sept. 6, 1947, in Middlebury, the son of Robert R. Ford and Joyce (Edwards) Ford.
Jim was a graduate of Vergennes Union High School class of 1966. He married Sylviasue Dickey on April 4, 1970, in Vergennes.
He worked for Joseph P. Carrara & Sons Inc., in maintenance, retiring after 40 years of service.
Jim was an avid hunter and spent many hours in the woods. Jim made many significant contributions to the fire service in New Haven, Addison County, and the State of Vermont. He was a dedicated volunteer serving in the New Haven Volunteer Fire Department for 53 years, 25 of which he served as chief. He was also very active in the Addison County Firefighters Association as well as the Vermont State Firefighters Association.
Jim is survived by his wife Sue Ford, his daughter Michelle Litch and her husband Rob, as well as son Matthew Ford and his wife Iva, and all of New Haven. Jim also leaves his siblings, Nancy Cyr, Roger Ford and Barbara Brown, as well as special cousins, Charlene Smith and Valerie Smith-Hastings. Jim was a proud grandfather to Riley Sullivan, wife Mirela and their daughter Mira, as well as Robert Ford. 
A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 11 a.m. on the Town Green in New Haven.
Memorial contributions may be made to the New Haven Volunteer Fire Dept. at P.O. Box 120, New Haven, VT 05472.◊
Arrangements are under the direction of the Sanderson-Ducharme Funeral Home. Online condolences at sandersonfuneralservice.com.◊