The Rev. Canon Samuel Mortimer Ward, IV
The Rev. Canon S. Mortimer Ward, IV passed from this life on Thursday, July 28, 2022. He was born in New York City in 1937 on the feast of St. Michael and All Angels. He graduated from Windsor Mountain School and received his Bachelor’s degree from Heidelberg University with a major in psychology and Master of Divinity degree from the Church Divinity School of the Pacific. He married Diane Korosy in 1960, and they had two children, Christopher and Samantha.
A Benedictine Confrater, Canon Ward served nineteen congregations as Vicar, Rector or Interim Pastor as well as numerous others as Diocesan Transition Specialist. Among other church positions he served on Diocesan Council, was a diocesan Fresh Start facilitator, ETS Claremont faculty member, Secretary of Province Eight Commission on Indian Work, Chair of Music and Liturgy Commissions for both San Diego and Los Angeles Dioceses and was Coordinator of Worship for two General Conventions of the Episcopal Church.
As a Professional Transition Specialist in the Interim Ministry Network he served as a member of the faculty, Accreditation Committee, Transition Consultant Peer Review Committee, Professional Development Committee, Board of Directors and was a contributor to two IMN textbooks.
A retired volunteer firefighter, he served the American Red Cross as an instructor, member of the Disaster Action Team, Emergency Medical Technician, Board Certified Crisis Chaplain, Disaster Mental Health Lead, Spiritual Care Advisor to the Central California Region, Services to the Armed Forces chapter lead and received the Clara Barton Award for meritorious volunteer leadership. In 2013 he was appointed to the board of directors of the Institute for Congregational Trauma and Growth.
Mort is survived by his wife of 41 years, Alessandra Ward, children Christopher, Samantha, Taylor and Alexander and seven grandchildren.
He will be remembered not only for his ministries, but for his epic eyebrows, his hearty laugh and a tremendous sense of humor that came alive especially with family and friends. Canon Mort loved learning, teaching, all kinds of animals, good liturgy and music. His favorite hymn was “Christ the Fair Glory” which he had congregations sing because it encapsulated his theology of prayer while causing people to stretch their vocal range a bit.
The date for a memorial service will be announced in the future.