Ford Bowman Draper Jr.

Ford Bowman Draper Jr., 82, passed away peacefully surrounded by love on June 22, 2024, at his home in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, after a short illness.  Known affectionately to his many childhood friends as “Pete” after a favorite horse, Ford was a beloved husband, father, and grandfather known for his style, love of the outdoors, enthusiasm for life, and dedication to his family, friends, and profession. He was a thoughtful, private person, but one whose wisdom ran deep and whose good sense of humor helped any conversation. His radiant smile will be missed by his many friends and family.

Born in 1942, in Bryn Mawr, PA, to Ford B. Draper and Katherine R. Draper, Ford had the privilege of growing up on his family’s farm in Chadds Ford with his five younger sisters and a brother.  From an early age, he wandered the rural hills and woods, and swam and fished in the Brandywine, which fostered his lifelong love of the outdoors.  He attended Tower Hill School, St. Paul’s School in Concord, NH, and then graduated from St. Mark’s School in Southborough, MA, in 1960, Yale University in 1965 and Columbia University Graduate School of Business in 1967.

He often spoke about time spent as a young boy with his grandparents at “Runnymeade”, their farm in Unionville, PA, where he explored the countryside including “catching his first fish” from the bridge and riding with the Cheshire Hunt.  He also accompanied them to “Deep Cove,” the family home on Mt. Desert Island, ME.  These experiences and the many people he met along the way gave Ford a unique foundation, stimulating what became a lifetime of adventures, countless stories, and fond memories that serve as an oral history for his family.
As a young man, Ford spent formative summers both traveling with friends and working.  He studied limnology with the pioneering scientist, Dr. Ruth Patrick, at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia.  Working for her furthered his interest in rivers, aquatic life, and environmental management and contributed to his passion for fly fishing both in streams and on the sea.
Adventures with numerous friends included a camping trip to Europe, a road trip across the South, and a job at Sun Oil Company’s refinery in Texas as a crew member on an oil tanker bound for Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela.  These experiences provided significant source material for a lifetime of storytelling and lessons on “what you should and shouldn’t do.”
Ford’s academic foundation paved the way for a successful investment career.  After graduating from business school, he began his career in the investment research and capital management departments of Smith Barney & Co. in New York City.  In 1970, he joined Baker, Fentress & Company, a closed-end mutual fund, where he honed his expertise in investing in small capitalization U.S. equities.  He opened an office in 1972 for Baker, Fentress in Wilmington, Delaware.

In 1982, Ford founded Kalmar Investments based on the investment strategy, style, and approach he helped pioneer at Baker, Fentress.  He named his style of investing “Growth-with-Value” and focused it on domestically traded small capitalization growth equities.  He successfully grew and managed Kalmar for 35 years, eventually bringing his sons into the business, mentoring them and many other investment professionals. Ford was able to create the life and business he dreamed of while living on the Chadds Ford farm where he grew up and that he loved so dearly.
Ford’s enthusiasm for the outdoors knew no bounds, and he loved spending time with his family pursuing his passion for fly fishing (especially for tarpon in Boca Grande), hunting, and cruising Mt. Desert Island’s waters on Rangitiki with family and friends.  His sons were incredibly fortunate not only to work with him at Kalmar for 25 years but also to have a lifetime of sporting adventures together.

Ford translated his love for the outdoors into a dedication to conservation and active involvement in related activities.  Working closely with the Brandywine Conservancy and Museum of Art, he was instrumental in creating the “Twin Bridges Rural Historic District.”  As a result of these efforts, the area was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2017.
Above all, Ford loved and adored his wife of 58 years, Brian Dougherty Draper. He was more devoted to her than even fishing or talking about fishing.  They were true partners in everything they did, including raising and caring for their family and enjoying a wonderful life together with many relatives and close friends.  Ford was the cornerstone of his family’s life, and his legacy of love and loyalty will live on through them.

Ford served on the board of the Brandywine Conservancy and Museum of Art and The Wilmington Theater Company.  He valued his relationships with fellow members of The Philadelphia Farmers Club, The Sons of Colonial Wars, The Wilmington Club, The Pot and Kettle Club, The Vicmead Hunt Club, The Northeast Harbor Tennis & Swim Club, The Gasparilla Golf and Beach Club, and the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin.

Ford’s life was rich with love and relationships.  He is survived by his wife Brian D.; son Ford B. Draper III and his wife Paige C. with granddaughter Mae E.; son Avery L. Draper and his wife Nina W.; brother-in-law Graham Dougherty; sisters A. Reeve Draper and Prudence D. Osborn and her husband Art; brother James A. Draper and his wife Joyce; and many cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ford B. Draper and Katherine R. Draper, and his sisters E. Avery Draper, Ellen D. Chadwick, and Katherine D. Schutt.

A memorial service to honor Ford’s life and legacy will be held in late September, 2024. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions can be made to The Maine Coast Heritage Trust, the Atlantic Salmon Federation, or The Brandywine Conservancy and Museum of Art.