Obituary of Susmita "Sutu" Ford

Susmita “Sutu” Ford, Wife, Mother, Sister, Community Leader and Dear Friend to so many, passed away on July 15th, 2023 at the age of 58 surrounded by family. Susmita was born to her parents Dr. Radha Gobinda Nath and Utpala “Parul” Nath, in Logan, Utah, on February 20th, 1965 before moving to Massachusetts at the age of 3.  Dr. Nath took a job as a mathematics professor at Salem State College  and the family eventually settled in Marblehead by 1970. After graduation from Marblehead High School, Sutu went on to study Economics at UMass Amherst and became an IRS Revenue Agent, spending her entire career with the agency.  While attending UMass, Sutu met Chris Ford their freshman year, and fell instantly in love (well, Chris did – Sutu took a little convincing). They dated for 6 years, got married in 1990 and moved to Burlington, MA. There they welcomed their two boys, Ian and Neil.

Sutu loved being a mother to her boys. She changed her work schedule to part time so that she could be home when the boys got off the bus from school two days a week on Thursdays and Fridays. She trained as a Scout Leader and was involved in Burlington Scouting for nearly 20 years, serving as a Cub Scout Leader and Troop Advancement Chair, bringing warmth and fun to the program and helping to guide scores of young men and women to do their best in Scouting. And, of course, she was proud of her two Eagle Scout sons. 

Sutu loved camping, particularly the gadgets.  She was a regular at Bass Pro Shops, getting all of the newest and best gear. She had more flashlights, lanterns, and cook stoves than most!  Many family vacations were spent outdoors, camping around New England, either up the coast of Maine, or out in Western Mass. 

You know you were loved in the Ford household when Sutu made you her famous Samosas. Like all Indian cooking, Samosas are a labor of love. There were no shortcuts to be had, but more hands did make for less work. She would recruit the whole family (and friends) to the kitchen to help with the prep, but she had the magic touch to fry them. They were so good, they rarely made it to the table, instead being grabbed right off the tray.  Sutu put that same love and effort into everything she did. 

Sutu’s love of television was legendary, and covered many genres.  After watching 10,000+ hours of Scrubs, ER, and Grey’s Anatomy with Ian, she was essentially a doctor. Sutu successfully diagnosed Chris’ Lyme Disease and her brother’s Sleep Apnea.  Neil introduced her to Anime, and she quickly became a fan, watching with Neil and his friends.  

Music, and concerts, were also a love.  She saw Rusted Root at least 6 times, and enjoyed all types of music from Trombone Shorty to Abba.  Sutu also tolerated Chris’ singer/songwriter music, attending many shows.  As the coolest person in any room she was in, she introduced her friends to Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Blue Oyster Cult, and many other of the best bands – her taste was simply unrivaled.

Sutu was blessed as a storyteller with great attention to detail. She and her friends would catch up for hours on end, telling stories and howling with laughter over a(?) bottle of wine. They had their annual weekend trip to the cape, which left all with more memories than you can count. Neil said he would come home from school some days to his mom on the phone, with the call timer up to 4 hours. She had an infectious personality, and everyone was drawn to her. 

Sutu loved her Patriots and Tom Brady was her #1. She was ready for every game wearing her Pats jersey for good luck. She participated in a number of different fantasy football leagues throughout the years. Many nights staying up until the very last moment of the game with her son Ian, sometimes waiting to see who would win their fantasy football matchup. She knew more about football than most.

Sutu was the cherished wife of Chris Ford of Burlington. She was the loving mother of Ian Ford of Burlington, and Neil Ford of Burlington. Sutu is the beloved sister to Mousumi Nath of Woburn and Amit Nath of New Durham, New Hampshire. She’s also survived by many caring family members and dear friends. 

A memorial service for Sutu will be held on Sunday July 30^th 11:00 a.m. at the Burlington Marriott, 1 Mall Road, Burlington, MA 01803. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Sutu’s memory to Dana Farber Cancer Institute www.dana-farber.org 

For online guestbook, tribute video and service information, please visit www.sullivanfuneralhome.net