Robert T. Foard, Jr.

Funeral Director

Bob Foard has lived in the Chesapeake City area his entire life. He is a graduate of Bohemia Manor High School in Chesapeake City, the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, and Towson State University in Baltimore.

A licensed funeral director since 1975, he is a past President of the Maryland State Board of Morticians, and a member of both the Maryland and Delaware Funeral Directors Associations. He is also a member of the Monument Builders Association of North America and the Cremation Association of North America (CANA). He is on the Board of Directors for NBRS Financial, and Rising Sun Bancorp which is a full service community bank.

Known for his active commitment to the surrounding communities, Bob has also served as President of the Rising Sun Lions Club and the Rising Sun Business Association, President of Newark Morning Rotary, President of Newark Senior Center Board of Directors, a member of Cecil County Chamber of Commerce, and Master Counselor of the De Molay Lodge in Elkton.

Bob and his wife, Patti, have two children – Whitney Montana and Madison Taylor.

Richard Goodie

Funeral Director

A veteran in the industry, Richard graduated from Eckels College of Mortuary Science in 1951, and has been a funeral director and embalmer for over 50 years. A lifelong native of Rising Sun, he is a member of Bethel Lutheran Church in Northeast Maryland and has been on the R.T. Foard staff since 1985.

Frank McFadden

Funeral Director

Frank was born and raised in Erie, PA. A 1972 graduate of Penn State University with a B.S. and M.Ed. in Education, he also holds a Master of Divinity degree from the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC.

Funeral service is a second career for Frank. He received his Mortuary Science degree, graduating summa cum laude from the Community College of Baltimore County in 1999, and has been with R. T. Foard Funeral Home since 2000. Frank was also a member of the faculty of the Mortuary Science department at the Community College of Baltimore County, Catonsville campus, where he taught funeral service history, funeral directing, and funeral service management and merchandising.

In addition to being a funeral director, Frank is a Certified Funeral Celebrant and as such is available to conduct funerals for those families who do not wish to have a minister or who have no religious affiliation.

He is a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Elks, the Susquehanna Lock House Museum, and the Havre de Grace Decoy Museum and is the chaplain to the Havre de Grace Ambulance Corps. He and his wife, Amanda, live in Havre de Grace, MD.

Louis A. Fiorucci, Jr.

Funeral Director

lou@rtfoard.com

Louis is a graduate of Grove City College in Grove City, Pennsylvania, with a BA degree in political science and business administration. He brings his 20 years of customer service experience to R.T Foard, and is involved in all aspects of funeral service. He completed his Cremation Certification through CANA, and graduated from Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science in January of 2006. In addition to his duties as a licensed funeral director, Lou is responsible for the administration of our on-site crematory.

Lou lives in New Castle, DE and is married with two children.

Edward McKeown

Funeral Director

ed@rtfoard.com

Ed McKeown, a lifelong Elkton resident, brings over 40 years of experience as a funeral director to R.T. Foard Funeral Home. He graduated from Elkton High School in 1966 and graduated from the McAllister Institute of Mortuary Science in 1970. Ed considers Bob Foard, Sr., with whom he worked early in his career, a major influence and mentor. We are thrilled to have Ed back in Elkton and part of the staff.

Ed has always been very active in the Elkton community. He is a member of Elkton United Methodist Church, where he has served as a member of the church Board of Trustees and the Administrative Council; he also sang in various church choirs. He is also a Life Member of Singerly Fire Company where he held various offices. Ed holds memberships in the Elkton Moose Lodge and the Elkton Oddfellows. He serves on the Ethics Committee for the town of Elkton, is President of the Board of Directors for Elkton Cemetery, and serves as current Vice President of Haven House. Ed is also an associate member of Eder George Post 85 and Atturbery VFW. He is the co-founder of Tide Water Gospel relief and chair of the Elkton Bicentennial committee. Previously, he was an Elkton town commissioner, member of VFW Post 8175, Parade Chair for the town of Elkton, and, since the age of 20, he has served as a volunteer Santa.

Ed resides in Elkton with his wife Cheryl.

Diana M. Russell

Administrative Coordinator

Diana M. Russell is a 1984 graduate from Aberdeen High School in Aberdeen, MD. She carries Maryland and Delaware insurance licenses in both Property & Casualty Insurance and Life & Health Insurance. Her career in funeral service began in June of 2004. Some of her community activities include being a member of the Greater Rising Sun Chamber of Commerce, also having served on the Board of Directors for the Greater Rising Sun Chamber of Commerce. She was also chairperson of the Sunfest Festival in 2004 and 2005 in Rising Sun. She is also an active participate in the Cecil County Chamber of Commerce for R. T. Foard Funeral Home.

Dawn Reese

Accounting/Finance

dawn@rtfoard.com

Dawn M. Reese joined our staff in November 2009. She graduated from West Chester University in 1995 with a BS in Education and also holds a Master of Science degree in Human Resources from Wilmington College. She enjoys traveling and spending quality time with family and friends.  She and her son live in Rising Sun.

Briana Saponaro

Administrative Assistant

briana@rtfoard.com

Briana is a 1989 graduate of Rising Sun High School and lifetime resident of Colora, MD. She has worked in the banking and healthcare industries for the past 20 years. She joined our administrative staff in 2010 and assists with our Funeral Service and Monument sales. She is a mother of one, Peyton Ana and enjoys Interior design, planting flowers and spending time with her family.

Crystal Calderon

Administrative Assistant

crystal@rtfoard.com

Crystal Calderon is a lifelong resident of Cecil County and maintains her roots deep in the county. She is a 1994 graduate of Perryville High School where she graduated with honors. She also holds an AA in Accounting from Cecil Community College and the American Institute of Banking. Crystal also maintains her Real Estate license in both Maryland and Delaware where she has actively worked in the residential and property management fields since 2002.

Crystal resides in Elkton with her daughter, Alexis and their two dogs. They attend Elkton United Methodist Church. She and her daughter enjoy visiting historical sites, scrapbooking and vacationing at Walt Disney World every fall.

Steve Meyer

Administrative Assistant

steve@rtfoard.com

Stephen worked in the insurance industry for two large companies as a property casualty adjuster and investigator for the previous 12 years. He worked for Batesville Casket Company in the mid-1990’s as a sales and marketing representative. He is in the process of obtaining his funeral director’s license. Stephen is a 1994 graduate of the University of Delaware. He recently relocated from New York State and currently resides in Newark, Delaware

Susan Stacy

Family Memorial Consultant

susan@rtfoard.com

Susan is a graduate of James M. Bennett High School in Salisbury, MD. She moved to Rising Sun, MD in 1996, and joined the firm in 1997. She is responsible for all aspects of the monument sales for R.T. Foard Memorial Co. Susan is committed to strong customer service and values the many lasting relationships she has made while servicing our families. She is active in the Rising Sun, MD community.

Jeff Kennard

Certified Crematory Operator

Jeff was born and raised in Newark is a graduate of Newark High School. Following high school, her enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. He then went to work for the federal government, and as a firefighter and paramedic. After retiring from government service, he was a representative for Snap On Tools, and also worked in the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner as a forensic investigator for Cecil County.

As a forensic investigator, Jeff saw the need for a transport service and in November 2009, with the help of Bob Foard, started the service. Through this, he became involved more deeply in funeral service and is now involved in transfers and cremations as well as other needs in the day-to-day operation.

Jeff is active in the Community Fire Company of Rising Sun and is a member of Mason Dixon American Legion Post 194. Jeff is a single dad with two children, Meghan and Jeffrey, Jr. and enjoys taking them boating on the Chesapeake Bay and camping.

Richard L. Funk

Funeral Assistant

Richard works part-time for R.T. Foard, assisting families in all aspects of funeral service. He is a retired educator from the West Nottingham Academy and the Hartford County Public School system. He holds BA and MS degrees from Lock Haven University and West Chester University. Richard is a member of the Bayside Community Network Board of Directors and the Chorus of the Brandywine/Wilmington, and the Delaware chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society, Inc.

Jesse Cox

Funeral Assistant

Jesse is a graduate of Rising Sun High School and spent four years in the U.S. Airforce. He worked for Nationwide Insurance Company for 33 years. Now retired, he is a part-time funeral assistant.

He is a member of the Elk Lodge No. 1564, the American Legion Post 194, Janes United Methodist Church, and since 1967, the Greater Rising Sun Chamber of Commerce.

Eric Cannon

Funeral Assistant

Eric is a Delaware native and has resided in Newark since 1978. He is an active charter member and past president for the Morning Newark Rotary Club. Prior to joining R.T.Foard, Eric worked in the field of Emergency Medicine for twenty-five years, retiring from New Castle County Emergency Medical Services in 1998. After retirement, he worked for a short time in the insurance industry before joining an auto dealership and selling automobiles for seven years. He is now a part-time funeral assistant, assisting families in all aspects of the funeral service.

Eric is married to Dr. Christine Cannon, a retired nursing professor at the University of Delaware who now works as a consultant with the Delaware Community Foundation. They have three children and two grandchildren.

Eric emphasizes his purpose to help eliminate stress for the families whenever possible during these most difficult times.

Duane Pease

Funeral Assistant

Prior to working as a funeral assistant for R.T. Foard Funeral Home, Duane was working part time for the Gee Funeral Home. He has brought his knowledge of Elkton and their families to the Foard organization.

Duane retired from the Elkton Police Department in 2003 after serving 31 years. He has been married 41 years to his wife Mildred Mae Murray and has 4 children and 5 grandchildren. An animal lover, his hobbies are golf, tennis, wildlife carving, reading and any kind of word puzzle.

Ronald P. Reese, Sr.

Funeral Assistant

Ron is a 1964 graduate of Rising Sun High School. Formerly UAW Health and Safety Representative for Chrysler LLC in Newark, DE, he retired in June of 2000 after 35 years of service.

Ron’s accomplishments include earning a private pilot license and his Maryland Real Estate License, and receiving a Health and Safety Specialist Certification from Ferris State University in Detroit, MI and a CETP Certification for Propane Delivery. Ron also graduated and acquired a license from the Central School of Beauty in Wilmington, DE in the mid 1960’s.

Ron married his wife Linda in 1968. Together they have two children and one grandson and currently reside in Rising Sun.

G. Edward Ginder

Funeral Assistant

G. Edward Ginder, born and raised in Lancaster County, PA and moved to Cecil County to start his career on leaving Elizabethtown College, where he majored in Business Administration.  Ed was and has been actively involved in volunteer work in Elkton and Cecil County.  He served as vice president and past board member of the YMCA of Cecil County, past board member and volunteer for 28 years with the Cecil County Special Olympics.  He was honored as being named “Volunteer of the Year” by the organization in 1988.  He also co-chaired the Elkton Bicentennial Committee, was elected as Town Commissioner for Elkton, and chaired the Administrative Board for the Elkton United Methodist Church.  Ed has also coached numerous youth and adult sports teams.