Michael Ference Jr.; Presidential Advisor, Ford Executive

Michael Ference Jr., 84, presidential science advisor and Ford Motor Co. research executive. Educated at the University of Chicago, Ference spent most of his career in research and development at Ford, retiring as corporate vice president. He served on the president’s Science Advisory Committee and Air Quality Advisory Board. Ference also was on the board of directors of Santa Monica-based Rand Corp., the Carnegie Institution, the Case School of Technology and Wayne State University. He chaired the 1968 Michigan cancer fund drive, served on the board of the Detroit Research Park and was on the Michigan Science Advisory Board. He was active in the National Academy of Sciences and advised the National Science Foundation on weather modification. On Wednesday in San Antonio.