1895

A heart-moving letter from Mrs. Julie Ford was received not long after I returned home from Dick Hall's House for convalescence early in December. While in the hospital I received notice of the death of our always hopeful and jovial Classmate Joe Ford. I at once notified members of the Class by post card. Not long afterwards I received the following noteworthy letter which I quote in full:

"Northgate, Apt. 4C Scarsdale, N. Y. December 16, 1950.

Dear Mr. Stevens:

This is a very hard letter for me to write, and I know it will be a great shock to you, unless Ernest Gile has written you the sad news.

Dear Joe passed away very suddenly on Monday afternoon, December 4. He went to New York that morning and did several errands, coming home about three o'clock. I came home from a meeting at church at 4:30, or, a little later, and found him lying on his bed, as if he had fallen asleep. At first I thought he was asleep, but soon found that he had gone, quietly and peacefully.

It doesn't seem possible that he has really left us, he was so full of the joy of living. But I am so thankful that he was spared a long illness. Of course it was his heart, a coronary thrombosis, the doctor said.

Our three girls all came on for the services on Thursday afternoon, which were held in the little church we helped (in a small way) to build. The burial will be in the spring in our family plot in Rochester, N. Y.

I am planning to spend Christmas in Buffalo with Dorothea and her family, and later in the winter _ may .go to Florida to visit our Constance who lives in Sarasota. I shall miss the loving happy companionship I had with Joe more and more, but just now I'm keeping busy and trying not to think.

I'm so glad that Joe's last few weeks were such happy ones. He saw Alice and Dorothea on our western trip, and Constance and her husband came up from Florida to spend Thanksgiving with us. Please remember me to Mrs. Stevens. I am sorry

that Joe and I couldn't have come to your Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary, but we were away out in Chicago, visiting our youngest daughter Alice at the time.

Hoping that I may see you both again before too long, I am

Very sincerely, (s) Julie Cole Ford."

I here refer to our Class notes in the December issue of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE where Joe's last letter to me fitly illustrates his genial character and his radiant optimism. We shall sorely miss him.

I quote from a recent letter from FredCleaveland.

"News of the passing of Joe Ford came as quite a shock following so closely the death of WillieWilson. As I reflect on the appearance of each at the reunion last June I recall the remark I made to Mrs. Cleaveland at the time: "Willie Wilson is not long for this world and Joe Ford has lost his usual pep." I felt that I had probably seen both for the last time but I did not look for the realization of that feeling in so short a period of time. Well, Steve, the ranks are closing in and we must bow gracefully to the inevitable. On the other hand we should not fold up but continue to get out of life all that it affords, living a mellower but a purposeful existence. I have already written to Mrs. Ford a letter of sympathy and encouragement."

Also a letter from Mrs. Wilson.

"I was shocked by the news of the death of Mr. Ford. He looked so well at the reunion in June and seemed to be in as good spirits as ever. Just think—two members of '95 gone in such a short time. If it is not too great a task in your present state of health, I do wish you would write me more about it, when it happened and how."

Secretary, White River Jet., Vt.

Treasurer, PROF. 10 Occom Ridge, Hanover, N. H.