Bruce Graham Ford, born in Springfield on Jan. 26, 1947, died July 12 at the Kaplan Family Hospice Home in Danvers of cancer.

He graduated from Westfield State College, earned his master’s degree at Northeastern University, and did advanced graduate work at Boston College. He taught physics for many years in Chelmsford, and more recently in Salem, N.H., where he took on a new challenge of building up the Salem High School physics department.

He was a resident of Newburyport, and spent many summers in Tenants Harbor, Me. He was a member of the First Religious Society, Unitarian Universalist, the American Yacht Club, and the Dalton Club, all of Newburyport, and of the Oldtown Country Club, of Newbury.

A special friend to many and revered by all who knew him, he had a sharp wit and always curious mind. His was a truly wonderful salty nature, and his teachings, seamanship, teamwork and tales brought much joy and laughter, and often. His happy, matter-of-fact outlook will forever inspire those lucky enough to have had his friendship. He encouraged us to appreciate the reality of our situations, and take pleasure in present moments. He taught so many so much. People young and old loved his company.

He was always so proud of his family, and was a great raconteur. Friends loved to listen to his stories about home, which he told with such love and admiration. An amazing person always admired for his wonderful spirit and humor, he was a fabulous father and husband. Sweet and selfless, he was also known for his inner strength, wit and character. But he was never more brave and noble than when he met the challenge of his life in his final illness, still overseeing family matters from his hospital bed, still trying to be positive and constructive, against all odds.

In his career, he was an inspiring mentor to younger teachers, helpful in so many ways, and his approach to teaching the complexities of physics became a curriculum model. He was also involved in curriculum development, educational publishing, and authored a science textbook, Introducing Science, which emphasized his innovative, interactive approach to teaching.

Parents lauded him for being such an effective teacher, and helping their children grow as students. They would often say how their sons and daughters truly loved learning in his classes. Over the years, he also made a special effort to encourage girls to remain active in the sciences. Many of his students would go a long way in physics because of him, and thanked him for sharing his knowledge of such a difficult subject. Many believed their child’s future brighter because of his teaching. It was said that Bruce achieved icon status as a teacher, and it was well known that students would be wise to get into his courses. As one wrote, “Thanks for giving it your all and always sharing a laugh with the rest of the class . . . for the laughter and good times . . . for being a great teacher and mentor.”

Colleagues also felt fortunate to have worked with him. “When I first started teaching, many older, experienced teachers gave me advice, and shared materials and strategies,” wrote one former colleague. “But there was one teacher who modeled a different approach. You had your own stool in the teacher’s room, and instead of blabbing away about who knows what, you sat and read your newspaper and drank your coffee. When I pressed you for information on what you did with the physics students, you told me, ‘Just ask them a question and see if they can design an experiment to find the answer.’ That very approach, which I hungrily adopted, is the basis for all the curriculum writing, training, DVD lessons, and various other consulting I do now for science education.

“You influenced my teaching style early on; you supported my foray into curriculum development, and then helped me get a job at your new school. I’m not sure that you know how much you’ve influenced my life over the years and how much you’ve influenced so many. Thank you for caring in your own, inimitable way, and for taking the time to give good advice and counsel over the years, to so many. Your influence on your family, friends, students, and colleagues can never fail.”

Another wrote: “I especially admire your willingness to challenge administrators. I still picture you striding down the halls of CHS and remember the way you cared for others by distributing retirement information. You made our school a better place for teachers.”

Then there were the precious family summers. When Bruce learned that Maine reminded his Midwestern bride, Wendy, (née Chapin), of the north woods back home, on Lake Michigan, he acquired property there that they enjoyed for many years, on a great pond behind the Camden Hills. As their family grew and required a more active environment, they shifted their downeast base of operations to Tenants Harbor, where Bruc e became devoted to the St. George sailing program. He quickly became a regular sight, helping out with the sailing, providing oversight to the young sailors, and steaming around the harbor on his beloved Force 5 — never quite leaving behind “the little boy” in himself, as summer pals were delighted to observe. As long as one young friend can remember, Bruce was a part of summer there, always grilling burgers on Westy’s birthdays, driving kids to the movies, and being out on the water for the races. “It’s all about the kids,” he would say. He loved Maine and was so pleased that his family attached themselves to the simple, healthy pleasures of a coastal Maine summer.

Bruce touched many lives in other ways, as well. A friend of his sister wrote, “I always felt that Martha’s Vineyard really opened up for me the possibility of living in a beautiful place, which I do now, and I have you to thank for that. From the days of my being an awkward, young friend of your little sister, my appreciation for you as the ultimate cool, yet kind, big brother has only grown.”

Bruce discovered the Vineyard as a young man and spent many happy summers sailing, crewing, and, as a sideline, running a business renting sailboats to summertime vacationers. In the summer of 1976, Bruce was introduced to his future wife, Wendy, who was visiting Edgartown from Michigan. After their marriage the following summer, they settled in Boston, but continued to visit the Island and sailed between Nantucket and the Elizabeth Islands, out of Edgartown, on their sloop Rigel for several summers.

Another colleague wrote, “We shared common prep time and became bagel buddies, and I was treated to even more of the Bruce Ford philosophy, which affected my life in ways that I could not have known at the time. You shared your love of the North Shore. You expounded at length about the incredible things the area has to offer . . . I moved to the North Shore 12 years ago, and never want to leave.”

But most important, Bruce Ford was well known for being a loving and talented father who guided Westy and Lindsay in the best way possible. In his role as husband and father, Bruce left his family a legacy encompassing ideas, goals, attitudes, priorities and values that will remain with his children forever. “He managed to imprint love and values on his children, and they will know the fine man he was,” wrote his aunt. “They will remember and appreciate his love, his wry sense of humor, and his love of family. He was a treasure. “

“How many parents can say they have participated in their children’s interests the way you and Wendy have,” wrote mother in law Billie Chapin.

So beloved, on so many levels, by so many people, he was everybody’s favorite guy — with always a kind word, a sincere smile and a positive attitude. Family and friends reveled being in the presence of his acute wit and clever sense of humor. “But mainly,” as their uncle Kim Chapin wrote Westy and Lindsay, “we will remember him for the constant love he showed for the two of you, and for your mother.”

So many feel so lucky to have known him. A wonderful gentleman, person, citizen of the world, he brought his family and friends the joy of laughter — even to the end — and with that, he will live on in all of us. As another old friend put it, “We’ll have to practice laughing more — on our own — he was such the instigator. We can still hear his voice and see his wonderful smile, and imagine him sailing on. We shall all miss him so.”

The passing of one so loved has us wishing we could reverse time. But the passage of time will allow us to cherish the happy memories and want to think and talk about them frequently. We are thankful for all the memories, which will sustain us as they come flooding in over the years to come.

No more tears because you are gone,

but smiles of happiness and gratitude

for having the time and privilege

of knowing you while you were here.

Survivors include his wife, Wendy, his children, Weston and Lindsay Ford, all of Newburyport, a brother, Dennis Ford, of North Falmouth, and a sister, Nancy Springer, of Croton-on-Hudson, New York.

His parents, Mary and Graham Ford, predeceased him.

A memorial service will be held at the First Religious Society, Unitarian Universalist, in Newburyport on August 28 at 2:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in Bruce’s honor to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline avenue, Boston MA 02215, or to St. George Community Sailing Foundation, P.O. Box 435, Tenants Harbor ME 04860.