City Faces: Meet Alecia Sirk Ford
By Julie Perine on January 19, 2025 from City Faces
Today’s Bridgeport City Face - the first of 2025 - is Alecia Sirk Ford, the wife of our City Manager, Patrick Ford.
“I am a local girl. My parents built their home on Hillcrest Circle in 1958, and I lived there until my mother, Patty Sirk, passed away in 1997,” Alecia said. “Since I lost my sister Kenna Jean Sirk in 2022, I’ve been longing to come back. Because of my husband’s work, that felt like an impossible dream, but when he was offered the position of City Manager we got to come home – a dream come true!”
Alecia says her memories of Bridgeport are what she calls “vintage."
“My mom used to drive me, Kenna and my friends down to the Dairy Queen when it was located across the road from where it is today,” she says. “In the summer, we would ride down on the back of the open station wagon tailgate!”
Alecia says she also looked forward every year to going to the Fireman’s Fair, held behind the fire department.
“It was always packed and felt exciting - like the whole city was there,” she says.
Alecia, born in 1968, was raised with an older sister – Kenna Jean Sirk, born in 1962.
“At that time, there were little to no services for developmentally disabled children,” she says. “My mother raised Kenna with such inspired care. She tried to give her all the same opportunities and experiences that any child would have.”
Kenna Jean was confined to a wheelchair all her life, but that did not stop Patty from pushing her around the block, at the mall, out to eat or anywhere else she wanted to go.
“From the time I was in grade school, it was just the three of us, and she made our home in Woodside Heights so very happy,” Alecia says. “Kenna didn’t go to school until she was 16. They took her by
bus to a dedicated one-room school in Clarksburg. Kenna loved it. I loved school, too. We were a very blessed little family.”
bus to a dedicated one-room school in Clarksburg. Kenna loved it. I loved school, too. We were a very blessed little family.”
Before returning to Bridgeport this year, Alecia has lived in various locations.
"We (Patd and I) have lived in Charleston, Pittsburgh, Pompano Beach, Florida, Weirton and Wardensville (WV) and the last four years we lived in Buffalo (NY)," she said. "Each time we've moved to advance Pat's career so that's been nice."
While living in Wardensville - a Hardee County town with a population of 250 - Alecia worked as the executive director of the Chamber of Commerce, her favorite job to date.
"It was crazy rural there but it was a wonderful experience for me," she said. "Work-wise and the people were amazing."
Alecia still loves and appreciates the local school system, as well as Bridgeport Public Library and the city’s winning football tradition.
“I also love that we have what I call the ‘World’s Most Polite Intersection’ – the three-way stop on W. Philadelphia and N. Virginia avenues,” she said.
Alecia has a diverse work background, including journalism (including the Exponent Telegram), city planning and community/non-profit 
management and organizing.
management and organizing.
“I am passionate about building community and bringing great ideas to life. I wanted to be a writer when I was young because I felt like it was the best way to be creative,” Alecia says. “But when I started managing downtown organizations and arts organizations, and then working with the boards of those organizations, I really got the chance to challenge myself and use every creative and determined bone in my body. I absolutely love to make things happen: Festivals, art shows, downtown revitalization events, anything that brings people together!”
What are your hobbies?
Alecia also loves to read and talk about ideas. She is also a collector of ceramic Christmas trees - the old-fashioned ones that were made by hand.
“By last count I have almost 230, and I am currently in the month-long process of storing them until next Christmas,” she says.
What is your favorite color?
It was always purple, but now it’s orange. But my signature color to wear is bright Bridgeport red (especially in lipsticks!)
What is your favorite movie and/or TV show?
This is a tough one! I am currently re-watching the original Fraiser. It’s my comfort show. Pat and I are watching old Perry Mason. What a great trio Perry, Paul Drake and Della Street are! My favorite movies are two series: the Jason Bourne movies and the Thin Man Movies with William Powell and Myrna Loy. Pat and I have watched each of the movies in those series dozens of times.
What about music?
Now we’re talking! I love music! I know the words to hundreds of songs (memorizing song lyrics was my thing as a kid. I think Alicia (Miller) Hanshaw knew more than I did, though). Growing up, I listened to Johnny Cash and Charley Pride. In high school, I loved Prince and Motley Crue. In college, R.E.M. and Nine Inch Nails. In the 1990s, I was obsessed with Courtney Love, The Indigo Girls and all things grunge. Now, I like Billie Eilish and Youngblood, but I’m also super into the blues and 1920s and 30s big band.
What are your favorite foods?
French fries and hot wings! (Hot take: boneless wings are not wings, they’re chicken nuggets).
Do you like to travel? Where is someplace special you have been?
I love road trips. In 2023, Pat and I had the golden opportunity to drive coast-to-coast. We went everywhere: from Yellowstone and the Black Hills, to Portsmouth, NH, and Portland, ME. It was an incredible journey. Last year, I spent three weeks in Paris cat sitting for a friend. I’m definitely in love with all things French (thanks to my junior high French teacher, M. Eniko Pfunder). Pat joined me for the last 10 days and it was the most wonderful time. I can’t wait to go back!
What is an interesting fun fact about you or anything else you would like to share?
Good goodness, I think I’ve shared enough. But I will add this – I love drinking coffee and hanging out and always welcome an invitation to do that!
And now, being back after so many years, I absolutely cherish when people remember me or my mom and sister.
Pictured from the top: Alecia during a visit to Paris, Alecia as a Bridgeport High School student, Alecia and her sister Kenna Jean, Alecia's mom Patty and sister Kenna Jean, and with husband, City Manager Pat Ford at 2024 Light Up Night.
