TNN NEWS — Bermuda lost an iconic figure in healthcare today with the passing of Russ Ford, who died this afternoon following an illness.
Ford leaves behind a remarkable legacy spanning more than four decades in nursing and a career that touched some of the most vulnerable people and families in Bermuda.
In 2005, the Bermuda Nurses Association recognised Ford’s extraordinary contribution to the profession by naming him Bermuda Nurse of the Year.
But his legacy extends far beyond that honour.
During the 1980s and 1990s, Russ Ford emerged as one of Bermuda’s pioneers in the fight against HIV/AIDS, at a time when the disease carried tremendous fear, stigma and uncertainty.
Ford was involved in the care of the vast majority of Bermuda’s early HIV cases, helping patients and their families navigate an illness that, at the time, claimed numerous lives on the island.
He wasn’t simply a nurse treating patients. He became a source of compassion, guidance and support for families who were often struggling with the devastating impact of AIDS and the stigma surrounding the disease.
In 1984, Ford was instrumental in successfully establishing Agape House, Bermuda’s first and only hospice, providing compassionate end-of-life care for patients and support for their families.
Two years later, in 1986, Ford was also among the founders of STARS — Support Therapy for AIDS Persons and Their Relatives, working alongside Carolyn Armstrong.
Together with a small team, Ford and Armstrong helped provide comfort, counselling, guidance and support to individuals living with AIDS and to families who had lost loved ones to the disease.
At a time when many people were afraid even to be associated with someone diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, Russ Ford stood in the gap.
His contribution also extended into Bermuda’s fight against addiction.
In 1986, Ford served as the nurse responsible for dispensing methadone through Addiction Services, under then-Director Brian Richards.
This was during a period when heroin addiction was having a significant impact on Bermuda. Ford played a direct role in the treatment and support of individuals battling heroin addiction.
His career also included many years within Bermuda’s correctional system.
Ford served as Senior Nursing Officer with the Department of Corrections at Westgate Correctional Facility, caring for inmates and addressing their medical needs.
After an extraordinary 42 years in nursing, Ford retired in 2014.
From HIV/AIDS care and hospice development to addiction treatment, corrections and nursing, Russ Ford’s career was defined by service to people who often needed someone willing to stand beside them when others could not.
His impact cannot be measured simply by the positions he held or the awards he received.
For countless Bermudians and their families, Russ Ford was the nurse who answered the call during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
He was a caregiver, advocate, pioneer and, for many, a trusted source of compassion during times of fear, illness and loss.
As Bermuda mourns his passing, TNN extends its deepest condolences to Russ Ford’s wife, his children, extended family, friends, former colleagues and all those whose lives he touched throughout his 42 years of service.
May Russ Ford rest in peace, and may his family be comforted during this extremely difficult time.
TNN News will continue to honour the life and legacy of Russ Ford, with further interviews with some of the closest people in his life.
Stay tuned to TNN News as we remember an extraordinary Bermudian whose life was dedicated to helping others.
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