Thomas “Austin” Ford of Palm Beach dies Thomas “Austin” Ford of Palm Beach and Dallas died Sunday, July 10, 2016, at home in Palm Beach. He was 25. Mr. Ford was born Nov. 20, 1990, in Carrollton, Texas, the son of Thomas Richard Ford and Kristin Broberg Ford. His early life was spent in Farmers Branch, Texas, where he attended McLaughlin Elementary School. In 2002, he moved to Palm Beach, where he attended the Palm Beach Day School and Lake Worth Christian; he graduated from Forest Hill High School in 2006. After high school, he attended Brookhaven College in Dallas and in 2011, obtained his certification as a scuba pro regulator technician. In 2014, he graduated at the top of his class as a certified master welder from the Tulsa Welding School in Jacksonville. He was an artist, played bass and was a disc jockey. In addition to his parents, he is survived by his grandmother, Stewart C. Broberg; uncle and aunt, Peter S. and Beverly D. Broberg; two cousins, Elizabeth S. Broberg and Erik S. Broberg; godparents, Colleen A. Dunbar and John Sandstorm; and godbrothers, James C. Dunbar and Christoper D. Hayes. A celebration of his life was held Thursday. Inurnment will be at The Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea after a private family service. Mr. Ford was predeceased by his maternal grandfather Gustave T. Broberg Jr., and paternal grandparents Thomas E. Ford and Patricia G. Ford. Memorial donations may be made in his honor to Pit Bull Rescue Central ([email protected]); Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League; Lifestraw by Vestergaard through the Rotary Club of Fort Lauderdale (converting contaminated water in disaster or poor countries). Quattlebaum Funeral, Cremation and Event Center, 6411 Parker Ave., West Palm Beach, handled the arrangements.