George Patrick Ford Sr. of Rye, New York, died on May 19, 2022, with his family by his side. He was 84.

Born in the Bronx, on February 1, 1938, he was the son of Susan (Becher) and John J. Ford. After graduating from Evander Childs High School, he served in the U.S. Army. He went on to work at Consolidated Edison, in the underground cable division, for 36 years.  

In later life, after his beloved wife Elizabeth Ford became comatose and then was in a persistent vegetive state, Mr. Ford researched these medical conditions and became a patient advocate. He was relentless in his mission to change how the medical community treated these patients and wanted to ensure physicians understood the consequences of prolonged unintended brain cooling.

His research, which is available on YouTube — “Persistent Vegetative State: Mystery Solved” — showed that intubated delivery of air into the lungs at a temperature significantly below body temperature, especially over a prolonged period, is likely to inhibit recovery and may even produce iatrogenic effects. He recommended the use of heated nebulizers.

In his retirement years, Mr. Ford often held “office hours” at Starbucks on Purchase Street in Rye. 

Elizabeth A. Ford died on December 22, 2000. George Ford is survived by his children, Susan Fellin, Kathleen (Michael) Dempsey, and George P. (Caren) Ford Jr., as well as eight grandchildren: Michael Dempsey Jr., John George Fellin, Christopher Dempsey, Joseph Fellin Jr., Jeremy Fellin, Jaimy Fellin, George P. Ford III, and Caitlin Ford. 

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated May 23 at the Church of the Resurrection.