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Ex-healthcare CEO, 74, dies of COVID-19 after telling granddaughter he was 'excited to get the virus now so he could see his grandchildren at the holidays'

The former CEO of a Wisconsin healthcare system who said he was excited to get COVID-19 because it meant he would be able to see his grandchildren again after he recovered has died of complications caused by the virus. 

Rexford 'Ford' Titus, 74, was considered a titan of healthcare in the state, having led as president and CEO of ProHealth Care until his retirement in 2010 after 42 years.  

He passed away on November 16 in AngelsGrace Hospice in Oconomowoc, a hospice he opened, after telling his grandchildren that he had been looking forward to seeing them again for the holidays.  

He had hoped that recovering from the virus would mean he would not catch it over the holidays, and he would be free to see his grandchildren. 

'We were on the phone talking about how he was so excited, not necessarily excited…but excited to have COVID so he could not have COVID. So he could see his grandkids again this winter,' his granddaughter Ali Dickinson told CBS 58 of her last conversation with Titus.  

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Rexford 'Ford' Titus, 74, died of complications caused by COVID-19 on November 16 in the Wisconsin hospice he had opened. He had told grandkids he was excited to have been infected with the virus as it meant that he might have been able to see them again over the winter

Rexford 'Ford' Titus, 74, died of complications caused by COVID-19 on November 16 in the Wisconsin hospice he had opened. He had told grandkids he was excited to have been infected with the virus as it meant that he might have been able to see them again over the winter

¿He was excited to have COVID...so he could not have COVID and see his grandkids again this winter.¿ Retired @prohealthcare CEO Ford Titus died of #COVID19 in November. Two of his granddaughters tell his story: https://t.co/GLU0ZTruI2 pic.twitter.com/VEhnoy48WJ

Titus started his career in Wisconsin in Waukesha Memorial Hospital, spending 42 years in the state as he led a major expansion in the region.  

The Florida native moved there in 1969 from Xavier University in Cincinnati and fell in love with the Badger State, his grandchildren said. 

He rose to chief executive of Waukesha Memorial Hospital in 1987 and chief executive of ProHealth in 2002. 

'When he got to Wisconsin, even though he wasn't born and raised there he just really loved the area of Waukesha and beyond,' said Ali. 'He wanted to take that and just really emphasize it.' 

'I think the best memories I have with our Poppy, is whenever we would visit their house in the summer.' added another granddaughter Jessica Dickson. 'He loved boating and he loved listening to Jimmy Buffet out on the boat.' 

They said that Titus had regarded the opening of AngelsGrace Hospice, where he was being treated when he died, as his proudest achievement. 

'He just really wanted to care for people, as we talked about, but especially at your later stages of life,' said Ali. 

'He wanted to sure that people were feeling welcomed and honored and present. So it was vision to create Angels Grace Hospice. That was erected in the early 2000s, he was so proud of it. And that was actually where he spent his last few days.' 

'I just want everyone to live a little bit more like Poppy. He loved life, he loved making connections. He loved the opportunity to share kindness and hope with other people,' Ali continued. 

 'When you step outside your home, just please choose kindness.' 

Titus had regarded the opening of AngelsGrace Hospice, where he was being treated when he died of coronavirus on November 16, as his proudest achievement, his grandchildren said

Titus had regarded the opening of AngelsGrace Hospice, where he was being treated when he died of coronavirus on November 16, as his proudest achievement, his grandchildren said

Titus is survived by his wife Bobbe who also tested positive with coronavirus but has since recovered. 

According to his obituary, under Titus' 42-year leadership, ProHealth grew to include three hospitals, 26 health centers, home health care, assisted and independent living communities, as well as his prized Angels Grace Hospice. 

He also served as the chair of numerous foundations and organizations including the Waukesha County Community Foundation, the Waukesha County Technical College Foundation and the Wisconsin Hospital Association Information Center.

Ford Titus, pictured, worked with ProHealth for 42 years, overseeing its expansion

Ford Titus, pictured, worked with ProHealth for 42 years, overseeing its expansion

He was recognized for his leadership in 2001  with the Waukesha County Business Alliance's Don Richards Award. 

'It is a noble, noble undertaking,' Ford once said about his career in an interview with Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

His death comes as Wisconsin comes close to 400,000 positive coronavirus cases. 

There have been 399,708 total confirmed cases and 3,562 deaths. 

There are a total of 17,741 patients currently hospitalized for COVID-19 in the state, 397 of whom are in ICU.

As of Wednesday, the last time data is available, Wisconsin's positive test rate seven-day average is 13.7 percent. 

On Thursday, Gov. Tony Evers asked the federal government to prioritize Wisconsin when it comes time to distribute a COVID-19 vaccine. 

He made his case in a letter to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar. 

'Wisconsin is uniquely facing challenges that other states are not,' Evers said.

'While other governors are working to turn the dial as case surges, our statewide mitigation efforts have been struck down, enjoined and are currently the subject of ongoing litigation.'

Wisconsin is edging closer to 400,000 positive coronavirus cases as of Friday

Wisconsin is edging closer to 400,000 positive coronavirus cases as of Friday

Death rates are also increasing with total deaths reaching 3,562 on Thursday

Death rates are also increasing with total deaths reaching 3,562 on Thursday

The seven-day positive average by person climbed dramatically through November

The seven-day positive average by person climbed dramatically through November

Evers has not been successful in implementing emergency public health orders as the state's conservative-leaning Supreme Court has continuously struck them down.  

As a result, Evers asked that Azar to allocate first shipments of doses to Wisconsin and in quantities large enough to vaccinate all 450,000 members of the state's health care workforce. 

Evers also sent a letter to the Wisconsin Congressional Delegation on Thursday in which he called in them to approve additional federal funding for the pandemic before it expires at the end of the year.

There have been more than 14.1million coronavirus cases in the United States since the start of the pandemic and 276,400 deaths. 

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