Steven Robert Ford

March 12 1948 – July 20, 2023

Steve was born in Salt Lake City to Robert William Ford and Hazel Heiner Ford.  He was an inquisitive, intelligent, active child, who always had an eye for beauty and design.  His siblings included Leslie Ann Ford, Michael Craig Ford, and Jeffrey Lynn Ford.  Together their family enjoyed life on Del Mar Drive, where Steve made many life-long friends, and graduated from the neighborhood high school, Skyline, in 1966.

After graduation Steve served a full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Germany.  (He became fluent in German, which served him well throughout his life.)  Following his mission, Steve attended Santa Fe College, the University of Utah (graduating class of 1974), Art Center College of Design, and graduate.sit.edu (German language degree).  Steve became an influential, creative and provocative photographer, image designer (brand marketing, corporate identity, and industrial design), actor, and film-maker.  Some of his career titles include:  project director at Landor Associates; chief creative officer at Texas Instruments; creative director at Corporate Headquarters; adjunct professor of photography/design at Weber State University; member, Utah Actors Association; director of Empress (his last documentary film, which profiled the 100-year history of the Empress Theatre in Magna, Utah); and creative genius behind Fordesign Group (steven.fordesign) – his mission statement, “DESIGN to stir up GOOD TROUBLE in an intelligent manner.”  Steve also held the title of mountain operations and security personnel member for Snowbasin Ski Resort. (He was an avid skier.)

Steve married Marsha Denise Gehring on September 13, 1972 (later divorced).  On February 2, 1978, he married Ketti Kathleen Kupper.  Steve and Ketti had two children, Ashley Elizabeth and K. Brianna Ford, who both became active in the California motion picture arena.  Ketti and Steve later divorced, and Steve married Eleanor Thompson on October 2, 2004.  He and Eleanor had 35 wonderful years together until Steve’s passing.

Steve and Eleanor received the devastating news that Steve had stage four prostate cancer in April of 2023.  He died on July 20, 2023.  He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Leslie Ann.  He is survived by his wife, Eleanor; his children, Ashley and Brianna; his brothers, Michael and Jeffrey; and his fur child, Isla.  A celebration of life was held at Snowbasin Ski Resort on September 17, 2023. Steve’s friend and professional associate, Kent Miles, wrote a tribute to Steve.  An excerpt from his tribute follows: 

“Steve was always good-natured. He enjoyed his life and friends and family, and through all hisups and downs he maintained a cheerful disposition. Were there times of distress andheartache? Sure, as there are for all of us, but he never gave up expecting good things were coming his way. For every disappointment there was a triumph. He learned from the former and thoroughly enjoyed the latter.  He worked hard, and he was good at his work. He was a skilled designer of product packaging, marketing, and corporate materials. He paid attention to the details and did not stop until he got the job done right. Steve was a good cook and he enjoyed entertaining and cooking for people. He tried new styles and ingredients and used his extraordinary imagination when doing so. And he enjoyed the results of his efforts as much or more than those he cooked for. Steve was a good athlete. He grew up skiing and golfing and continued to do both, as long as health permitted. He enjoyed playing his last round at El Monte Golf Course just a few weeks before he passed. He was a very good friend.  Loyal, dependable, supportive, trustworthy. Once you were his friend you could count on him for life. We all need friends like Steve. Most importantly, Steve was a good father, brother, husband, and son. He loved his family and was proud of them all. To sum it all up, Steve was – and still is – a Good Man.”

Steve photographed the Skyline reunion of 2016 (50-year reunion).  He gave his classmates many enjoyable photos to memorialize an historic and extraordinary event. The photos are displayed on the Skyline 1966 class website. 

Steve’s remarkable photography can still be viewed at his website, https://www.flickr.com/photos/fordesign/