Ford Hurley Peckham

Ford Hurley Peckham, of Needham, passed into eternal rest on Friday, January 12, 2024. He was 80 years old. Born in Springfield MA, he was a son of the late Robet Nelson Peckham and Mary Ellen (Roberts) Peckham. His family settled in Needham in 1954, when Ford was in the 6th grade.

Ford was a proud member of the first graduating class of Catholic Memorial High School, the Class of 1961. He played hockey at CM. Ford went on to receive his Bachelors Degree in Economics from Stonehill College and a Masters Degree in Economics from Northeastern University. Ford spent his career working as a Commissioned Federal Bank Examiner, from which he retired after 31 years of dedicated service. He received several Treasury Citations for productivity and was published in the Federal Register. During his career, Ford had also lived in Portland and Kennebunkport Maine. In his retirement years, Ford worked on the grounds crew at the Needham Golf Club where he took pride in mowing the fairways. Ford was a avid hockey fan and loved the Toronto Maple Leafs  and Northeastern Hockey. He enjoyed walking, reading mysteries, current events and World War II and British mysteries on Public Television. 

Ford served the Town of Needham in numerous ways. He was Town Meeting Member for 25 years, served on the Finance Committee and was a Commissioner of Trust Funds, just to name a few. The town’s 2014 Annual Report was dedicated to Ford for many years of service to the town. Ford worked the election polls for many years, he was a former member of the Exchange Club and an active daily communicant of St. Bartholomew Parish where he was a lector and a proud member of the choir. He could be found most mornings at his table at Bagels Best, enjoying his coffee, reading the NY Post and chatting with the staff and many patrons who became his friends.

He was the son of the late Robert Nelson and Mary Ellen (Roberts) Peckham and brother of the late Robert Nelson Peckham, Jr. He was also preceded in death by his longtime companion Jane Howard. He is survived by his niece, Melissa Hopp and her children Siobhan of Washington State and Nelson and Sophie of Pennsylvania.

At his request, there will be no Visiting Hours. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Bartholomew Church, 1180 Greendale Ave, Needham on Saturday, January 27th at 9AM. Interment will follow at Needham Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Ford’s name may be made to:  Catholic Memorial, 235 Baker St, West Roxbury 02132, The Needham Police Union, PO Box 920014 or the Needham Firefighters Local 1706, PO Box 920856, Needham MA 02492.  

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