Dr. Thomas Force, longtime obstetrician and gynecologist at several area hospitals, has passed at the age of 90. Abraham Gutman covered the loss of the Rydal healthcare professional in The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Force spend more than three decades welcoming newborns in hospitals in and around Northeast Phila. For 12 years, he was OB-GYN director at Frankford Hospital, from which he retired in 1997.

His 69-year marriage — to a woman he met as a second grader — produced two children and two grandchildren.

In his free time, Force enjoyed the thrill of speed-based past times like sailing, waterskiing, and watching the racers at the Pocono 500 with his son.

He also found delight in singing, a talent he often exhibited publicly.

In 1988, Force volunteered with the Jenkintown Food Cupboard, an outreach for which he helped register donations and manage finances. In 2018, he was formally recognized for 30 years of service, with the organization’s leaders commending him for being “…meticulous in his work, ever faithful to the mission, and served with great integrity.”

His altruistic approach to life is something he frequently shared with his son, telling him, “What I went to school for was to help people.”

The full account of the life of Dr. Thomas Force is at The Philadelphia Inquirer.