Bernard Ford Death – Ice Skating Legend and Coach Bernard Ford who was also known at Bernie has sadly passed away. He died on Thursday 6th April 2023. Skate Canada: Alberta-NWT/Nunavut shared the news on Facebook saying “We are deeply saddened to hear Bernard Ford passed away on April 6. He was a four time British, European and World Ice Dance champion from 1966-1969”. The exact cause of his death has not been known at this time.
Who was Bernard Ford?
He won the World Professional Ice Dance Championships more than once. In later years, he developed a career in coaching and choreography. In 1964, Towler/ Ford made their debut in the World Championships and finished in 13th place. In 1965, they came in fourth place, just one spot off the podium. Towler and Ford took home the gold medal at the European Championships in 1966, and they went on to capture their first World title the following year.
A demonstration competition for ice dancing was held during the 1968 Summer Olympics, and Towler and Ford won the gold medal for their performance. In 1976, ice dancing was given its own category inside the Winter Olympics for the first time. Due to the accomplishments of Towler and Ford, they were inducted into the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 1993 and were made Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by Queen Elizabeth II.
Bernard Ford Career
In addition, Towler and Ford were awarded the Order of the British Empire (MBE). In April of 1969, the Birmingham Ice Skating Sound of Music Dance Gala Team competed. After moving to Ontario, Canada in 1971, Ford taught a number of ice dance teams to national victories and international fame, the most notable of which were Tracy Wilson and Rob McCall, who won a bronze medal at the World Championships in 1986. Both the Petro-Canada Coaching Excellence Award and the Longines-Wittnauer Coaching Excellence Award were bestowed upon him as a result of his achievement as a coach with the Wilson/McCall team.
In 1986, Ford was one of the individuals who helped establish the York Region Skating Academy (YRSA) in Richmond Hill, which is located in Ontario. In 1989, Ford came up with the idea for the Cha-Cha Congelado at the YRSA, and with the help of coach Kelly Johnson and the ice dance team Laurie Palmer and Steven Belanger, he was able to perfect the move. Ford was honored by the Town of Richmond Hill with an induction into the Richmond Hill Sports Hall of Fame in the year 1999.
Bernard Ford’s obituary will be released by the family
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