August 16, 1939 – July 1, 2026
The world lost one of the good guys. Basil or “Bas” as he was called by his friends, was born and raised in San Francisco. Growing up, he built the family summer cabin in Boulder Creek with his step-father Bernard Narey. Days at Boulder Creek were filled with swimming in the creek, dances at Forrest Pool and many spaghetti dinners prepared by his mother Margaret Passama Narey. He graduated from Balboa High School where he was a standout football player and a member of the 1957 City Championship team.
After graduating high school, he became an electrician, working on many of the biggest buildings in San Francisco, including the Hilton Hotel. A few years later, he joined the Palo Alto Fire Department where he proudly served for 28 years as an Engineer. He also led the training and mentoring of several next generation firemen. The fire department was his second family. He was grateful to all the great friends he made at the department and for all of those who supported him during the illness and eventual passing of his first wife Joyce Diane Cady.
In 1978, he married Jeanine Ann Grant whom he met while she was a nurse at Stanford Hospital when she had to sign-off on his EMT training. It would be the first of many “collaborations”. Their first date was at a hot tub party hosted by a Palo Alto Fireman. On their wedding day, they were given a piece of the hot tub with a plaque that read “The Family that Bathes Together Stays Together.” They spent 46 love-filled years together before her passing in 2024. They resided in Los Altos all of those years and spent many a summer night in Maine on Little Sebago Lake with their daughter Megan Ford and Jeanine’s nephew Kevin Kaserman, his wife Denise and their children Jojo, Kyle and Julia.
Bas’ prized possession was his black 1957 Chevy Bel Air Convertible that was a staple around Los Altos whether it be in Pet Parades, The Festival of Lights or Los Altos High Homecoming parades. The Chevy was also the centerpiece of over 25 annual trips to Hot August Nights with his son Todd Ford, wife Kathleen and their three boys Taylor, Jordan and Sawyer and daughter Megan, where many cherished family memories were made.
Basil was loved by all of those who knew him. Although he persevered through many tragedies, he maintained a positive attitude that was infectious and inspiring to all of those he touched. Will Rogers famously quipped that he “never met a man he didn’t like”. Similarly, his son Todd always said “I have never met a man who didn’t like my father”.
He is survived by his brother-in-law Michael Cady his wife Randall, brother in law Glenn Cady and nephew Jeff Ford and wife Esther, daughter Megan, Son Todd Ford his wife Kathleen, Grandson Taylor and his wife Alana, Grandson Jordan and his wife Susanna and Grandson Sawyer. He is preceded in death by wives Joyce Diane Cady and Jeanine Ann Grant, daughter Holli Ford, infant son Todd Ford (deceased 1964) parents Margaret Narey and Basil Ford Sr. and stepfather Bernard Narey.
A celebration of life will be held at Basil’s house in Los Altos, Sun, August 16th at 11:00 AM. Dress code is “Basil Casual”, jeans and a t-shirt preferred. In lieu of flowers donations to the Kianos(supporting disabled adults) or your favorite charity preferred. Please view/sign guestbook: limacampagnamortuaries.com
