Fran Ford, President of Castelli North America, Passes Away

Fran Ford, CAS, president of Castelli North America, Sparks, Nev., passed away last night after a long-term illness.

Ford spent 40 years in the promotional products industry, including two stints at Castelli from 1993 to 2002 and from 2012 to this year. In between, he served as vice president of J. Charles from 2009 to 2012.

Ford was also a member of the Promotional Products Education Foundation (PPEF) board of trustees, and a 2015 inductee of PPAI's Hall of Fame.

"Fran had roots in Allentown, Pa., my hometown," said Marc Held, president of Promo Marketing. "I got to know him very well over the past six years. I considered him a mentor and a really good friend."

Ford is survived by his wife, Theresa; and son, Kenny.

For more information on Castelli North America, visit www.castelli-na.com.