Jane Ann Ford

Jane Ann Ford

On Wednesday, December 2, 2020, Jane Ann Ford, 73, passed away from a longstanding illness, peacefully at her home in Tiburon, California. She died surrounded by her family.
Jane, along with her identical twin sister Jean, co-founded Benefit Cosmetics. In 1976, the sisters opened a small makeup store in San Francisco called the Face Place. Jane's attention to detail, her desire to surprise and delight and her unmatched business savvy, turned one store into the global cosmetics giant, Benefit Cosmetics. In 1999, Jean and Jane formed a strategic partnership with Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy to grow their fledgling brand into the worldwide success it is today. Jane was honored with the Cosmetic Executive Women Achiever Award in 2005. She was credited for creating some of the most notable products in the beauty industry. Driven by Jane's exceptional aesthetic and love of packaging, Benefit became iconic for its whimsical products, designed solely to bring customers' joy. This was a fundamental shift in the industry, and something the brand is still known for today.
She is preceded in death by her identical twin sister Jean Ann Ford and survived by her husband Chris Petrin, brothers Lee R Ford III and Anita Ford, Brad Ford and Debbie Ford, in-laws Jay and Barbara Petrin, Pamela Petrin, Daniel Petrin, nieces Maggie Ford Danielson, Ann Ford Danielson, Alison Murnane, Kelly Fiore, Amy Pugh and nephews, Lee R Ford IV, Brad Ford Jr, Jerome Petrin and Nolan Petrin.
Born on August 7, 1947, in Indiana, Jane grew up on a farm in Northern Indianapolis. She attended North Central High School and then went on to Indiana University, BA '69, where she was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and majored in business. After graduating she and her sister Jean decided to move west and made their way to San Francisco.
Jane spent her time with her beloved husband Chris and relished the opportunity to welcome their close friends and family to their homes both in Tiburon, CA and San Jose del Cabo, Mexico. An unapologetic perfectionist, she surrounded herself with beauty, and whimsy, always resulting in a magical experience for all.
She was a loving sister, wife, aunt and friend. She was also a visionary, and her contribution to the world of Benefit Cosmetics has changed the lives of so many. In the words of Pete Born, Editor at Large, Beauty, Women's Wear Daily, "Jane was a great and gracious soul. Known for her keen business mind, she shared with her beloved sister and cofounder, Jean, a penchant for spontaneity, rule breaking and a love of the dramatic. Jane had a heart full of creativity and it was fearless."
Contributions may be given in memory of Jane Ann Ford to The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, www.mdanderson.org/gifts, or to P.O. Box 4486, Houston, TX 77210-4486.