Thomas Edward Ford

"Belchertown-Thomas E. Ford, 66, of State St., passed away Wednesday, July 22, 2009 at Fisher Home in Amherst. Born in Palmer, MA on October 19, 1942, he was the son of the late John and Eva (Bonci) Ford. Tom has lived in Belchertown for the past five years, and was a former longtime resident of Monson. In 1966, he graduated from Northeastern University and from 1967-1981 was a teacher of Physical Education, basketball coach, and Director of Athletics at Monson Jr. Sr. High School. During that time, he also coached basketball at Cathedral High from 1974-1978. He was a former member of Quaboag Country Club in Monson, and from 1984-1995, Tom was the owner/manager of Fords Discount Package in Monson. Most recently Tom has been the Athletic Director at the Granby Jr. Sr. High School. From 1981 to the present, he was the Tournament Director for the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Assoc. (MIAA) in Milford. Thomas is survived by his children, Kim Puzzo and her husband David of Ludlow, Marcia Jacobs and her husband Steven of Tolland, CT, Cynthia Aponte and her husband Richard of Bethel, CT, along with 6 grandchildren, Alyssa and Kyle Puzzo, Katherine and Jennifer Jacobs and Christopher and Adam Aponte. Thomas also leaves a brother Robert Ford and his wife Shirley of Hartford, CT and Lehigh Acres, FL, and a sister Joanne Styspeck and her husband Thomas of Hadley, along with 6 nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held Sunday, July 26 from 2:00-5:00 p.m. at the Beers & Story Palmer Funeral Home. Friends and family may gather Monday at 9:00 a.m. at the funeral home to process to St. Thomas Church for a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. Donations may be made in his memory to the Fisher Home, 1165 N. Pleasant St., Amherst, MA 01002. "