John F. Ward is a Woonsocket native. The 5th child of Dr. Bernard V. Ward, a city dentist from the 1940s to '80s, and his wife Simone, his family grew to 10 children and they lived at 961 Mendon Road in East Woonsocket. John attended St. Joseph School (now Good Shepherd), Mount St. Charles Academy, and Bryant University, where he earned a Bachelor degree in Business Administration, majoring in Accounting.

You might know some of John’s brothers and sisters. 

His younger brother, Dr. David Ward, followed in dad’s footsteps and is currently a city dentist on 460 South Main St. Now, his two daughters, Doctors Samantha and Alexandra, have joined him as dentists serving city residents. 

There’s Vinnie Ward. He was a police officer for a time, a local Realtor, a City Councilor, and served in Mayor Francis Lanctot’s Administration. He went on to begin Home Care Services of Rhode Island, a home care agency. 

You may know Tom Ward as founder and publisher of The Valley Breeze newspaper. He was a Woonsocket Call photographer and editor first in the “Andy Palmer days,” and later began The Breeze. He expanded his free newspaper to Woonsocket in 1999, and it’s still in the city today, the best-read paper in the city. 

Kathy (Ward) Jarry spent her career as a beloved and respected elementary school teacher in Cumberland. John’s youngest sister, Christine, now works for the State of Rhode Island, where our older brother, Rick, spent his entire career in the then-emerging field of computerization of the state. 

John’s younger brother Bob served on nuclear submarines for 26 years with the United States Navy, and continues his career now in New York. 

Two of John's brothers, Dennis and Kevin, are now deceased. 

It’s a big family. John says, “I’m pleased to say we all did our best to bring pride and happiness to our parents and siblings, and value to our country and communities. I hope you’ll allow me to continue in that tradition as Mayor of Woonsocket.”