Adam Ford
Boston/New York, d.10.July.2020, seizure

Adam Ford
Photo by Amy Gibbs

Adam Ford a beloved veteran Boston bike messenger. He traveled the world winning many races and championships making many friends along the way. He was also an advocate for Boston messengers. He passed away after having a seizure at home. He is greatly missed by the entire worldwide community.





I feel like I have reached a whole new level of grief where the pain is overlapping and untouchable.
Dear sweet Adam,
My "muse". I love you. You know I do. You stood by me...for everything. From nearly twenty years ago to today. From drinks at Zum Schneider (we broke the table arm wrestling) and Soda Bar, to making fun of Floyd Landis. Your famous photo from CMWC NYC (still my favorite). To standing me up for our last date. You fell asleep? Its O.K. I love you all the same. You making me watch Mr. Robot during the pandemic (you and those buggy-eyed characters!) and introducing me to Highly Suspect (that one was good). You gave me strength to survive NYC during the most critical time. You listened to me complain about the long line at Trader Joes. You texted me daily. We laughed and we talked. You said call anytime and you always picked up the phone. You made fun of my pink helmet. When I was almost homeless, you tried to hook me up with a restaurant job. You were there. Always. The hardest part is not saying goodbye. Not telling you how much you mean to me. But you knew. To say I will miss you is such an understatement and I feel totally robbed of your friendship. How will I do all this without you now? I'm still not riding rollers. Ride in peace you incredible soul. You have left a gaping hole in the world for everyone who loved you.... and there were LOTS of us. We love you buddy. My sweet muse Adam Ford. RIP. - Amy Gibbs

 


A note for all who may or may not have heard that Adam Ford has died.  Beautiful, big-hearted, and ever-evolving, Adam was a fixture in my life since age 16 and it is fucking impossible to imagine that I won't be receiving another text or impromptu visit or white-knight gesture from our cherry-haired friend. Somehow it didn't dawn on me me that there might come a day when I would never again hear him say: "Ros, ya need anything?"--even if it meant him dropping everything in Boston to help me move a table in Brooklyn or shed a mean beau.  I keep flashing on moments of our shared youth and his steady love, and breaking down again. He saw me clearly as I think he saw us all, which is why he could be so shockingly intimate and also so shockingly blunt. He was a fierce protector, fierce truth-teller, fierce champion, and if I'm being honest I don't feel I ever lived up to that love. It's the worst thing ever, scanning through our text exchanges and seeing that he was writing to my best self when I wasn't behaving as her. But that's the truth and he deserves my owning up to it.

Pictured here is the last line of a letter he wrote me in 1991. I spent hours last night digging through boxes trying to find all the photos I kept of him for so many years—handsome in his tux the year we went with Matt and Juliana to prom; laughing hysterically as he pulled my braids at the sledding surprise party he hosted for my 16th birthday; stunning in a fur hat during his tenure in Russia. Then I found this letter, written from Moscow upon hearing I’d been in hospital. His passionate concern was even more beautiful that his physical presence, which is saying quite a lot.
As I write this, I can’t help thinking that what hurts most is that of everyone I know, it would have been Adam himself who would have most fully appreciated what I’m writing now. Not because it’s about him but because he so appreciated any expression of genuine emotion. He noticed and carried it all—and I wish I’d more effectively lightened his load.

At the least, he deserved this message while he was alive, and I will always regret that he did not receive it. In this moment I beam him the pure love he always always beamed at me, at each of us. And I pray that he can feel it, wherever he is.

If you are reading this and knew the rightly named Adam--first in everything, especially when on his bike—please join me in upholding his legacy. Behave with as much care and kindness as is humanly possible. More than that, join me in wishing him a clear path as he ventures to whatever will hold him next.
Goodbye, my very sweet friend. - Lisa Rosman




Adam Ford
Photo by Andy Zalan

I rode with Adam in the 90s, when downtown was a testosterone machismo pissing contest.  But not  Adam, he was just his weird nice self.  I always think of  him at the top of high street eating a cup of yogurt in spandex, teasing me about my shitty bike.  I wish we had hung out more in recent times. A Facebook post isnt enough
So fucking sad. RIP Adam Ford, the one and only. - Rachel Bankey


I wish I would've sent more love your way when I had the chance. I know you knew we were tight, but I regret not reminding you more often. I'm going to miss you Adam. You were a good one. Ride in peace my brother. - Andy Zalan

What the F!!! I just found out Adam Ford is dead. I don't know how he has come have pass on but this hurts man. When I was feeling down at the start of this year he was one of the many brothers and sisters  that reached out and talked with me over that time. This man offered an ear when I was down.
Miss you bro wish we could have talked about happy times. - Sean Marquis Belfast


A local legend was lost today.  When I started working messenger as another wet behind the ears bike racy college kid living their razor's edge experience pre career in boston just post y2k, Adam Ford was the first person you knew of before having met them and then proceeded to be as nice as possible when you finally did.  I've shrugged off the passing of a number of celebrities as nothing that changed my world but this is different. - Matt Budd

He was the first real racer in the mess community that I ever knew of. He was a god among men. He was the first of the Blackouts to make me feel welcome as a Boston messenger. This is a deep loss. - Josh Rose

Tragic loss. Adam was will always remain a mythological figure to me. I first met him probably when I was 17 my first summer working downtown. He was always the dude with the coolest bike, the best bag, and fastest around. My teenage self looked up to, and idolized Adam very much. Just recently I started seeing him riding around Union Square in Somerville with some regularity but never got the chance to catch up. - Niles Kuronen

  

 

Dear friends of Adam. Hello, this is his brother, Peter. Sorry it’s taken me this long to post something. I am the only family member in the area, and able, to handle everything related to Adam’s death, and so have been dealing with the most immediate things, with the help of various friends. I have yet to hack his social media & tech, so for the time being posts will be how and where it can be done. I will post this in a couple places in these threads at the moment. I’ve read through some of the post below so will answer a couple questions.

-Adam died July 10th, late Friday night, at his apt, due to a seizure, according to the paramedics.
-Adam will be cremated this week and I’ll be spreading his ashes somewhere/sometime in the future. As the immediate family is myself and our retired parents (living elsewhere), there will be no formal ceremony. I’m letting a few mutual restaurant friends, organize a celebration for Adam. At this point due to C-19, the plan is to wait until the fall, hopefully when it has subsided, to have a “remembrance truly fitting of Adam”, to quote a friend.

I know friends in the messenger world are aware of Adam’s death as well, and there has been talk of a group ride, but understand that this has been delayed for the same reasons. So maybe in the fall there can be a combined gathering. I’m less connected to them/you, as it’s a been ages since I supported Adam at a CMWC, NACCC or alley cat. My main ‘messenger’ contact is through his roommate John.
When something is planned, we’ll get the word out one way or another. At the same time please don’t hesitate to have your own gathering (safely please).
Feel free to pass this along.

If you have any comments/questions, I’ll check in here periodically, again at this point I don’t have access to his page directly (maybe soon), only the global comments, so will try my best, or feel free to reach out to me directly.
He will be greatly missed and it hurts.
Peace everyone.
-Peter


Damn it man!!! First Bill Dappio and now Adam Ford Gone to the messenger Heaven!! I just can’t believe it! Every time he came down from Boston he made sure to see me!!! Love these guys!! They were always genuine brothers!! Gonna miss you 💔💔💔💔💔 - Fernando Rivera


My deepest condolences to you and your family. Many of us knew and loved Adam Ford for decades in the courier community; as I am sure you already know well. Matthew Sullivan and I hope and pray that he rests in peace. May his memory, and knowing how loved he was by so many, is of some comfort to the family at this time. - Chaz Sullivan


We were all lucky to have been graced by Adam Ford. Knowing now he won't be coming to NYC this summer is a gut punch. - Austin Horse

Adam Ford. You shone brighter than most.   I travelled the world for ten years - working multiple cities, racing alleycats, attending bike courier championships, parties and ever since we met on a the filthiest weekend of weather in Edmonton, you stood out from a host of names and faces that I always looked to embrace if we were in the same place.  I’ll be looking up to see you amongst all the stars, shining brighter than those around you. - FYXO





Adam Ford and the Boston Blackouts at CMWC Toronto in 1995

Adam Ford - Bartender / Bike Courier - Thursday, April 30th, 2020

Alleycat Couriers - The Atlantic, July 1997 - includes an interview with Adam

Seattle vs. Boston - Boston.com, October 26,2003 - Adam Ford went to the 2003 Cycle Messenger World Championships in Seattle a humble bike courier from Boston. He returned a world champion.

Seattle Skid Marks - The Stranger, September 18,2003 - Boston Bike Messenger Delivers the Bad News





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