Descendants of John Joseph Roderick  3 Jun 2012
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Descendants of John Joseph Roderick

Generation No. 4


4. John Douglas4 "Doug" Roderick (John Lawrence3 Roderick-3, John Joseph2 Roderick, John Joseph1 Roderick)  was born 14 Feb 1915 in Revere, Suffolk County, Massachusetts.  He died on 29 Jan 1993 at home, Silver Spring, Montgomery County, Maryland1; and buried on 02 Feb 1993 at St Mary's Cemetery, Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts.  He married Mary Ellen Henry, daughter of Thomas Henry and Rosanna Sheridan, on 28 Jun 1941 at St John's Church, Peabody, Essex County, Massachusetts.  She was born on 30 Aug 1916, 5:45 am, at home, Peabody, Essex County, Massachusetts.  She died on 09 Mar 2006 in home, Silver Spring, Montgomery County, Maryland at about 3:45pm; and buried on 14 Mar 2006 at St Mary's Cemetery, Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts.
  Notes for John Douglas Roderick:              

Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, Birth Records, 1840-1915 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. Original data: Massachusetts Vital Records, 1840-1911. New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts.
Births Registered in the City of Revere, 1915,   p: 286:
  • No. 72:   John D Roderick,  Male,  Birth: 14 Feb 1915 in Revere,  Father: John Roderick born in Cohasset,  Mother: Sadie McGinnis born in Charlestown,  Reside: 4 Wolcott Rd,  Occ. of father: Real Estate.
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Education
  •  Garfield School
  •  Revere High School, Class of 1933 - President of the class '33 beginning as a sophpmore.
  •  State Teachers College, Salem, Massachusetts - B.S. in Education
  •  Boston University Braduate School of Education - Master of Education (Ed.M.) 9 June 1941.
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A TRIBUTE TO: JOHN DOUGLAS ("DOUG") RODERICK, February 14, 1915 - January 29, 1993
Introduction:
  On the 10th Anniversary of my father's death, I want to pay tribute to him by sharing with you some of the dimensions of his full and active life.  John Douglas ("Doug") Roderick was a Valentine baby, born February 14, 1915.  As a result, Valentine's Day became my favorite holiday, for as a child and even as an adult, Dad would present us with Valentine gifts during his birthday party!

His Death:
  Dad died of stomach cancer on January 29, 1993 in his home (Silver Spring, MD).  He was surrounded by his family during the final week of his life as well as at his moment of death (8:30am on a cold but sunny Friday morning).  My Mom led us in final prayers as life left his body.  Dad had been diagnosed with stomach cancer in September 1989, undergoing surgery late that month.  He returned to his home in Sarasota, FL that winter as well as the winters of '90 and '91.  But by the summer and fall of '92, he was struggling again with the disease, the origin of which would not be determined by the Walter Reed doctors.  One of Dad's nephews, Brian Henry, spent the week after Christmas '92 with us, and I know how much Dad valued his visit.  Dad was hospitalized during the 2nd and 3rd weeks of January '93.  He spent the final week of his life at home under hospice care and the care of his family.  We held Dad’s funeral at St. John’s Catholic Church in Peabody on Feb 2.  Joan Murtagh Hunt (MA), Mom’s niece, helped with the arrangements and did the readings at the funeral mass.  Dad was buried at St. Mary’s Cemetery (Peabody/Salem line) with his in-laws, Nana and Grandpa Henry, and his brother-in-law, Tom Henry.  We hosted a “celebration of life” luncheon in Dad’s honor at one of his favorite restaurants, The Town Line House, Lynnfield.

His Life:
  But what about Dad's life. . .he had two wonderful parents, Sadie and Jack Roderick.  Dad lived his early years in Revere, MA and St. Petersburg, FL, helping to drive the family car to FL when he was just 12.  Dad graduated from Revere High School ('33), and went on to State Teachers College at Salem ('37), majoring in Business Education.  He met Mary Ellen Henry of Peabody at college.  Aunt Lorraine (my father's only sibling) tells us that Dad always said Mary Henry was the smartest person in his class.  Dad was the lead singer and dancer in the musicals at Revere High School.  He was the Editor of The Log (Salem’s newspaper) in his junior year and Editor of The Clipper (Salem’s yearbook) in his senior year.  He and Mom married on June 28, 1941 at St. John's Catholic Church, Peabody, MA, acquiring a wonderful set of in-laws, Rosanna and Tommy Henry.  He and Mom had three children: Joan Elaine (3/42), Ellen Mary (5/44), and John Francis (aka, Jackie, Jack) (6/48), all born in Salem Hospital.  Mom and Dad celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary in MD in June '91.

His Career:
  One's career is so much a vital part of one's life -- and Dad had five.  He was a teacher and coach in MA, a sailor in MA & CT, a Naval Officer in MA & DC, a school administrator in MD, and a Federal civil servant in DC.  He taught and coached in four MA high schools: Dighton ('37-'39), Billerica ('39-'42), Arlington ('46-'48), and Brookline ('48-'50).  As a sailor, he never spent time on ships because of his tendency toward seasickness.  Instead, he worked in Boston, MA and Noroton Hts., CT ('42-'44), training enlisted men in business skills (e.g., typing, shorthand).  In '44, he became a Naval Officer in the USN Supply Corps, working at the Naval Shipyard, Boston ('44-'46).  In '50 he was called back into the Navy due to the Korean War.  And that is what took the Roderick family to Washington, DC.  He served in a number of USN positions from '50-'56, and then left active duty to accept the assistant principal position ('56-'57) at a new high school in Silver Spring.  Dad completed his Naval career as a reservist and achieved the rank of Commander.  To this day, Mom has the benefits of the military, with any needed medical care provided by Walter Reed Army Medical Center.  Dad spent one year as an Assistant Principal and then decided to seek Federal employment.  Dad worked for 4 Federal agencies - - Dept of the Navy ('57-'58), Dept of Commerce, Coast & Geodetic Survey ('58-'61), FAA ('61-'64), and FDIC ('64-'76), where he was Chief Auditor when he retired in '76.  Most of his positions in Federal service were in supervisory/managerial accounting and auditing but he did have one stint as Director of Management Training at FAA.  So my Dad and I have something in common in our careers.

His Family:
  Dad was the husband of Mary (Henry) Roderick (MD & FL) and the father of three children: Joan Roderick Carlberg (MD), Ellen Roderick (MD), and John Roderick (FL).  He was the father-in-law of Jim Carlberg (MD) and grandfather of David James Carlberg (MD & PA), and Matthew Alan Carlberg (MD).
  He was the brother of Lorraine (Roderick) Forte (FL) and the brother-in-law of Joe Forte (FL), Joe Henry (Deceased), Rita Henry Armstrong (TX), Tom Henry (Deceased), and Esther Henry (MA).
  He was the uncle to 13 nieces and nephews:
 
*  Living Henry (MA)
*  Living Henry (NY)
*  Barbara Henry (MA)
*  Living Henry (MA)
*  Living Henry (CO)
*  Living Henry (CO)
*  Living Falbo (TX)
*  Living Henry (France)
*  Living Lawler (CA)
*  Living Forte (MA)
*  Living Forte (MA)
*  Living Forte (MA)
*  Living Forte (CO)

    Dad was very close to his first cousin, Sara Ahern (MA), who introduced us to Sarasota, FL when she and her husband, Jack, were living in Venice, FL in the early '70s.  That provided the impetus for Mom and Dad to explore Sarasota, renting on Lido Key to "try out" the city, and then purchasing ('77) their condo at Embassy House (#1003) in Sarasota.  The condo overlooks Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico (a million dollar view).  Dad was very close to Sara and Jack's children: Johnny (NY), Barbara (MA), Patsy Wilhite (CA), and Paul (MA).

His Education:
  How my father valued education! He studied at Salem (BS-'33), Boston University (MEd-'41), Pepperdine, Harvard, Princeton (Officers Training School), University of MD, and American University.  He encouraged his family to pursue higher education and to compete for scholarships and fellowships.  It was because of Dad's encouragement that I applied for the year of study abroad through my high school, spending '61-'62 in Rome, Italy.  When I had the opportunity to study for my PhD with the granting of a U. of MD Fellowship, Dad was right there urging me to give it serious consideration which I obviously did!

His Character:
  Throughout his life he sacrificed so that his children could have the best.  He rode to work in carpools for years so that his children could use one of the family cars to get to school.  He sent me to Rome ('61) when he and Mom had never been out of North America.  He was a dedicated family man.  We made frequent trips to Boston to visit our grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.  He loved to pick blueberries with Nana and Grandpa Henry, reaping the benefits when Nana Henry would make delicious blueberry pies.  He loved to travel, a characteristic inherited from his mother.  At least once a month on Sunday, as a family we took a drive in the countryside of MD, PA or VA after church and dined at a country inn.  He took us across country twice by car so that we could see and learn about our beautiful country.  He and Mom made 16 trips to Hawaii, with his last one in '91 when my parents accompanied me on a Department of the Navy assignment to Oahu.  There are so many wonderful things I could tell you about my father but I'll close with what brought him the greatest joy in his retirement years - - the marriage of his older daughter, Joan, to Jim Carlberg and the subsequent birth of his two grandsons, David ('82) and Matthew ('85).  He loved those boys beyond measure.  One of my favorite photos of my Dad is of him sitting on the sofa reading to David when David was about 4 years old.  Dad loved to take them everywhere; one of their favorite spots was the train at Brookside Gardens in Silver Spring.  On his deathbed, Dad made one final request - - “take care of my boys.” Jim, Joan, Mom, Jack, and I have been doing just that ever since.

  Ellen Roderick
  January 29, 2003
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THE SALEM, MASS., EVENING NEWS — MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1993, page 8, OBITUARIES
SILVERSPRING, Md. — J. Douglas Roderick, 77, of Sarasota, Fla., the former chief of audits for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and a former Peabody, Mass., resident, died Friday morning at his daughter’s home following a short illness.
   Mr. Roderick, the husband of Mary (Henry) Roderick, was born in Revere, the son of the late John L. and Sarah (McGinnis) Roderick.  He lived in Peabody from 1941 to 1950.
   Mr. Roderick graduated from Salem State Teachers College in 1937, earned a masters degree from Boston University in 1941 and did graduate work at Harvard and the University of Maryland.  He was a resident of Maryland from 1950 to 1977, when he moved to Sarasota.
   He was a 20-year veteran of the U.S. Navy, served during World War II, and retired as a lieutenant commander after 20 years.  He was a past member of the Knights of Columbus in Peabody.
   Mr. Roderick is survived by a son, John F. Roderick of Quincy, two daughters, Joan R. Carlberg of Darnestown, Md., and Ellen M. Roderick of Silver Spring; two grandchildren and a sister, M. LorraineForte of Florida.
   His funeral Mass will be celebrated Tuesday at 10 a.m. in St. John’s Church in Peabody.
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Ancestry.com. U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007.
  • John Douglas Roderick [John D Roderick],  SSN: 011123904,  Male,  White,  Birth: 14 Feb 1915 in Revere, Massachusetts;  Death: 29 Jan 1993,  Father: John L Roderick,  Mother: Sara F McGinniss,  Type of Claim: Original SSN.
Notes: Jul 1937: Name listed as JOHN DOUGLAS RODERICK;,  10 Feb 1993: Name listed as JOHN D RODERICK
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Ancestry.com. Social Security Death Index [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006. Original data: Social Security Administration. Social Security Death Index, Master File. Social Security Administration.
   John D. Roderick;   Born: 14 Feb 1915;   Died: 29 Jan 1993;   SSN: 011-12-3904;   State (Year) SSN issued: Massachusetts (Before 1951);   Last Residence: Sarasota, Sarasota, Florida 34236.
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Ancestry.com. U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012 - John Douglas Roderick:
  • Birth: Feb. 14, 1915 in Revere, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, USA;   Death: Jan. 29, 1993 in Sarasota, Sarasota County, Florida, USA [NOTE: Place of death was Silver Spring MD];   Burial: Saint Mary's Cemetery, Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts, USA.
  • Spouse: Mary Ellen Henry Roderick (1916 - 2006).
Created by: Thomas F. Scully,   Record added: Jul 05, 2015,   Find A Grave Memorial# 148693131
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  Notes for Mary Ellen Henry:              

Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, Birth Index, 1901-1960 and 1967-1970 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. Original data: Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics. Massachusetts Vital Records Index to Births [1916-1970]. Volumes 92-160, 162, 168, 175, 212- 213. Facsimile edition. Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts.
  • Mary E Henry,  Birth: 1916 in Peabody, Massachusetts, USA;  Volume Number: 634,  Page Number: 695,  Index Volume Number: 96,  Reference Number: F63.M362 v.96.
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  • Her birthday is shown handwritten in the records as Aug 13, 1916; we know this to be in error; doctors phoned in birth dates days or weeks later to the Office of Records, so errors were made.
  • Baptism: 10 Sep 1916, St John's Church, Peabody, Essex County, Massachusetts.
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THE SALEM NEWS, Massachusetts, Monday, March 13, 2006, Page C6 - OBITUARIES
SILVER SPRING, Md. — Mary Ellen (Henry) Roderick, 89, beloved wife of the late John Douglas Roderick of Revere, Mass., died peacefully at her home in Silver Spring, while surrounded by her family Thursday, March 9, 2006, after a nine-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
   Born in Peabody, Mass., she was the daughter of Irish immigrants, Thomas and Rosanna Henry of 8 Mt. Vernon St., Peabody.  She graduated from Peabody High School in 1933 and in 1937, she graduated from Salem Teachers College with a bachelor’s degree in secondary business education.
   She worked for the superintendent of the Peabody School system during the 1940s.  She married John Douglas Roderick of Revere in 1941 at St. John’s Church in Peabody.
   Mrs. Roderick moved with her family to the Washington area in 1950 because her husband was called back into the U.S. Navy at the start of the Korean War.  She joined the Montgomery County School System in 1954 as a sixth grade teacher at Montgomery Knolls Elementary in Silver Spring.  After three years, she was appointed as one of two handwriting specialists who taught handwriting in schools across the county.  She received a master’s degree in educational administration and curriculum in 1960 from George Washington University.
   In 1960, Mrs. Roderick was appointed as the first principal of the newly built Whittier Woods Elementary in Bethesda, and in 1964, she was appointed as the first principal of another new school, Burnt Mills Elementary in Silver Spring.  In 1966, Mrs. Roderick was selected as one of two assistant directors in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, where she provided leadership to the secondary instructional supervisors and managed the development of the curriculum for all high school courses of instruction.  She retired from the school system in 1977.
   Along with her husband, Mrs. Roderick retired to Sarasota, Fla., where they became residents.  In 1993, her husband of 51 years, died.
   She was a member of St. John’s Catholic Church, Peabody, Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, Takoma Park, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Silver Spring, and St. Martha’s Catholic Church, Sarasota.  She was a member of two honorary organizations for women educators, Alpha Delta Kappa and Delta Kappa Gamma.
   She will be dearly missed by her family, including two daughters and a son, Ellen M. Roderick of Silver Spring, John F. Roderick of Tampa, Fla., and Joan Roderick Carlberg of Darnestown.  She was the mother-in-law of James Carlberg; grandmother of David J. and Matthew A. Carlberg, all of Darnestown; sister of the late Joseph Henry of Peabody and Thomas Henry of Salem; and aunt of Joe, David, Brian, Tommy, Michael, Patty, and Barbara Henry, Patricia Falbo and Michele Lawler, and Kenneth, Janice, Paul, and Mark Forte.

ARRANGEMENTS: Relatives and friends are kindly invited to a visitation Tuesday, March 14, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 20 Church St. location, Peabody, followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 11 a.m. in St. John’s Catholic Church, adjacent to the funeral home.  Interment is in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Salem.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Scholarship Fund of Maryland Beta Alpha Delta Kappa, 16617 Cashell Road, Rockville, MD 20853; the Alpha Delta Kappa Foundation (for altruistic initiatives and scholarships), 1615 W 92nd St., Kansas City, MO 64114; or the MD Regional Office of the Alzheimer’s Association, 1738 Elton Road, Suite 302, Silver Spring, MD 20903.
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Ancestry.com. U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007.
  • Mary Ellen Henry [Mary E Roderick],  Female,  White,  Birth: 13 Aug 1916 in Peabody Essex, Massachusetts;  Death: 9 Mar 2006,  Father: Thomas F Henry,  Mother: Rosanna V Sheridan,  Type of Claim: Original SSN.
Notes: Oct 1939: Name listed as MARY ELLEN HENRY;   Sep 1952: Name listed as MARY E RODERICK
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Ancestry.com. Social Security Death Index [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006. Original data: Social Security Administration. Social Security Death Index, Master File. Social Security Administration.
   Mary E. Roderick,  Born: 13 Aug 1916,  Died: 9 Mar 2006,   SSN: 019-12-2106,  State (Year) SSN issued: Massachusetts (Before 1951),  Last Residence: Silver Spring, Montgomery, Maryland 20903.
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Ancestry.com. U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012 - Mary Ellen Henry Roderick:
  • Birth: 1916 in Peabody, Essex County, Massachusetts, USA;   Death: 2006 in Silver Spring, Montgomery County, Maryland, USA;   Burial: Saint Mary's Cemetery, Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts, USA.
  • Spouse: John Douglas Roderick (1915 - 1993).
Created by: Thomas F. Scully,   Record added: Jul 05, 2015,   Find A Grave Memorial# 148693148
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  Marriage Notes for John Douglas Roderick and Mary Ellen Henry:     
SECRETARY WILL BE MARRIED TO REVERE TEACHER
School Head's Aid Will Be Bride At Church Ceremony
   Miss Mary Henry, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas F. Henry of 8 Mount Vernon Street, has selected 4 o'clock Saturday afternoon, June 28, for her wedding in St. John's church to J. Douglas Roderick, son at Mr. and Mrs. John Roderick of 41 Bickford Avenue, Revere.
   Miss Henry, who will be given in marriage by her father, will wear a gown of white velva ray marquisette, with long train and veil, falling from a tiara of seed pearls.  She will carry a white prayer book with an orchid streamer.
   She will have as maid of honor, Miss M. Lorraine Roderick, sister of the groom, who will wear yellow marquisette, with lace trimming, and a tiara of natural flowers.  The bridesmaids, Misses Rita Welch and Aileen Walsh, will wear orchid marquisette with flower tiaras, and all attendants will wear face veils, and carry old-fashioned nosegays.  Joseph P. Henry, brother of the bride, will be the best man, and the ushers will be Henry Van Dyke and Stephen White of Revere.
   At the reception to follow at Lodge Pole Ranch in Beverly, Mrs. Henry, mother of the bride, will assist in receiving in a gown of blue lace with orchid corsage, and Mrs. Roderick, mother of the groom, will wear blue linen lace, also with orchids.
   Miss Henry is a graduate of Peabody High school and Salem Teachers' college.  She has been secretary to Superintendent of Schools William A. Welch, Mr. Roderick ls a teacher in Howe High school of Billerica.
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Family Pictures:             
  Children of John Douglas Roderick and Mary Ellen Henry are:
  6. i. Living5 Roderick.
    ii. Living Roderick.
    iii. Living Roderick.
5. Margaret Lorraine4 "Lorraine" Roderick (John Lawrence3 Roderick-3, John Joseph2 Roderick, John Joseph1 Roderick) was born on 15 Nov 1918 in Revere, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, died on 05 Mar 2006 at home, Clermont, Lake County, Florida and buried Mar 2006 at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts.   She married Joseph "Joe" C Forte 06 Dec 1942 at Our Lady of The Sea Catholic Church, Revere, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, son of Anthony Forte and Mary Rogers.   He was born 12 Sep 1919 in Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachussetts, died on 14 Jul 2008 at Health Central Park, Winter Garden, Florida, and buried on 19 Jul 2008 at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts.
  Notes for Margaret Lorraine Roderick:
Ancestry.com - Obiturary Collection - Delaware County Daily Times (Apr/28/2006)
M. Lorraine Forte — 1918 - 2006
Clermont, FL — M. Lorraine Forte, 87, of Clermont, FL passed away Sunday, March 5, 2006 at her home.  She was born on November 15, 1918 in Revere, MA to John and Sarah F. (nee McGinnis) Roderick.  She had lived in Clermont for the past three years previously living in Bradenton, FL since 1979.  Mrs. Forte was a retired school teacher and a member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Clermont.
  Mrs. Forte is survived by her husband, Joseph C. of Clermont; sons, Kenneth (Rita) Forte of Clermont (Formerly of Burlington, MA), Paul (Kathy Konkle) Forte of Chelmsford, MA, Dr. Mark (Susan Shekerow) Forte of Monument, CO; daughter, Janice (Anna Tarquino) Forte of Cambridge, MA; grandchildren, Christine, Mary Anne, Elizabeth, Jacqueline, Sophie and Charlotte; G. Grandchildren, Emily, Christopher, Bryan and Benjamin and sister-in-law, Mary E. Roderick of Silver Springs, MD.
  Visitation and Services will take place in Lynn, Massachusetts.  An online guest book is available for family and friends at www.beckerfamilyfuneral.com.  Becker Family Funeral Home, Clermont, Florida is serving the family.
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Tribute spoken by Mary Anne Calabrese after the funeral mass at St Mary's Church:
  I'm Mary Anne Calabrese, one of Ken Forte’s daughters, and proudly one of Lorraine Forte’s six grandchildren.  I'm honored to speak here today for a brief moment to help us all celebrate the life of my Nana, who was also our mother, our great-grandmother, and our friend.  In the past few days as our family told stories about my Nana’s life, a few things stood out: The love she had for her family, especially my grandfather, the love she had for teaching others, and her love of telling stories.  Since she lived a long and wonderful life of 87 years, she had many to tell.  Most were short and sweet, just like she was.
  Before I tell you a little about my Nana, I’ll first share with you one of the stories she told the most.  She told us that when she was a teenager, she’d go swimming in a particular pool in Revere, where she grew up.  Her reason for going almost every day was because of a good-looking lifeguard.  No, this wasn’t my Grampa but a man named Johnny Weissmuller.  A few years later, Johnny Weissmuller was “Tarzan” in the Movie, “Tarzan and Jane.” Nana always thought it was funny that she knew a movie star before he was famous.
  Speaking of good-looking men, my Nana would always get giddy when she would talk about how she met my grandfather, Joe Forte.  “He married an older woman, you know,” is something she’d tell us, always with a sparkle in her eye and a giggle.  The story goes that while my Nana was attending Salem State, she saw a handsome boy who, believe it or not, had curly hair and played basketball & soccer.  She got a friend to introduce her.  This handsome man from Medford was my Grampa and, yes, I said he had curly hair and played basketball.  They car-pooled together for a couple of years and upon graduation from Salem, they were married.  It’s remarkable that my grandparents wed in this same church and were married for 63 years.
  Soon after, my Grampa was off to France and Germany for World War II, where he was a decorated war hero and served in General Patton’s Third Army.  My Dad, Ken, was born while my Grampa was still overseas.  It’s incredible that my Dad didn’t meet his Dad until he was almost two years old.  My Nana was proud of her husband and also proud that she had saved all of the military pay that my Grampa sent home.  My grandparents eventually settled in Winchester, Mass, where the rest of their four children, Jan, Paul, and Mark, were born.
  Both of my grandparents were educators.  Nana taught typing and short hand before the age of computers.  She loved teaching and encouraged her children and grandchildren to continue their educations after high school.  She was proud of each of us as we earned high school, college, graduate, and post-graduate degrees.  She was proud of her youngest child, Mark, who went on to become a medical doctor.  When Nana learned how to use a computer and started sending emails at age 82, it was our turn to be proud of her.
  Most of Nana’s life was centered around teaching.  My Dad shared stories of the great summers at the University of New Hampshire where Grampa would teach UNH summer school.  They rented a professors’ house there and my Nana loved to have all her and her brother’s kids come for the summers.  Nana would watch over all the kids having fun at the UNH swimming pool or at Wallas Sands beach.
  My Aunt Jan shared stories of how Nana taught her to sew.  Nana’s mother, my great-grandma Roderick, had taught Nana to sew and she passed it along to Jan.  Nana always used to make her own dresses, blouses and pants, right up to couple of years ago.  They were all beautiful, even her “famous t-shirt dresses.”  She even made us grandchildren clothes.  Just like she did with Jan, Nana would take my sisters and me to the fabric store.  We’d pick out material and, like magic, a package would arrive in the mail.  The first thing we always did was look at the inside label, which read, "Made by Nana with Love."  In reality, no label was necessary because we knew that every stitch she sewed was made with love.
  I’m also told of the great times my Uncle Paul used to have at Nana and Grampa’s summer home at “The Cape.”  Mark, Paul, Jan, and Ken had fun boating and swimming in and around the Cape Cod Canal.  In recent years, us grandchildren and even Nana’s four great-grandchildren loved to visit Nana and Grampa’s house in Florida.  My parents moved to Florida two years ago and we loved being able to walk down the street to visit Nana.
  These facts, stories, and memories I have just told you are only a snapshot of my Nana.  While we will all miss her, we should remember that she is certainly looking down on us now, just a proud and loving as when she was here with us.  I invite each of us to celebrate her life by continuing to share her stories in the years to come.
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Ancestry.com. Social Security Death Index [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006. Original data: Social Security Administration. Social Security Death Index, Master File. Social Security Administration.
  Margaret L. Forte;   Born: 15 Nov 1918;   Died: 5 Mar 2006;   SSN: 012-14-3575;  State (Year) SSN issued: Massachusetts (Before 1951);  Last Residence: Clermont, Lake, Florida 34711.
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  Notes for Joseph C Forte:
Ancestry.com. U.S. Public Records Index [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005. Original data: Compiled from various U.S. public records.
 •  Joseph C Forte (Born: 12 Sep 1919) & Margaret L Forte (Born: 15 Nov 1918);   Address: 878 Summit Greens Blvd, Clermont, Lake County, Florida 34711.
 •  Joseph C Forte (Born: 12 Sep 1919) & Margaret L Forte (Born: 15 Nov 1918);   Address: 4829 Montrose Dr, Bradenton, Manatee County, Florida 34210.
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From: Ken and Rita 40         Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 12:48 AM
To: ForteKennethYahoo
Subject: Dad Update ---the last one
All,
  The past couple of weeks have been hard.... the Bad News first:  We lost Dad today [Monday] at 10:35 am. He hasn't been eating well the past three weeks. The past two weeks he was lucky to be eating 50% but drinking Ensure and eating ice-cream.... Stopped eating food in the past week but he was still drinking his Ensure supplement [3-4 cans a day].... Still, he loved eating ice-cream the whole time and I would give him a couple-a-day [and he always got one from me anyway, every day].... My sister Jan came down on Friday and was with Dad when he died this morning.  Rita and I unfortunately, arrived 20 minutes later.
  Dad sort of stopped drinking, three days ago but we were still trying to make him drink and were moderately successful.... but two days ago we were advised that forcing him to drink would potentially infect his lungs, congestion, etc., and we then accepted what was coming..... personally I thought it would take a few more days, but was wrong.
  THE GOOD NEWS..... Dad never understood what had happened to him this past almost 16 months, so he wasn't unhappy.... and the most important thing.... he is now, I just know, very happy with Mom in heaven.
  This last update gives me a sense of closure on one of my hero's in life....my Dad, along with my grandfather Roderick, and Rita's Dad, Tom.  I now miss all three.  Thank you for your condolences and prayers....
Ken
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Email from Ken Forte to Dan Kubin on Sat 7/19/2008, 7:23 PM.
  Thank you so much..... We buried Dad today..... Military Funeral..... 3 soldiers, taps, flag draped coffin etc..... am sure Dad would have liked it.  I was presented the Flag from a grateful country..... when the Army E-7 saluted, I saluted back......Dad was buried in his uniform [I think you know he was a retired Full Colonel, 33 years..... landed at Normandy].  My hero.  We are obviously in Mass for mass and funeral.... and will be here until Thurs Night, It was all very easy with my Mom going 2 1/2 years ago.... 4 daughters had it down to a science from last time.... they handled everything and as usual made me very proud.....  One the Restaurant.... one the 5 huge picture frame..... one the flowers and Lizzy [you met her a couple of times]..... everything else with the funeral home. Lizzy wrote the Eulogy and Mary Anne gave it..... all extra special.  Will send later..... perfect day except we will never see Dad again, but always see him in our memories.
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Grampa Tribute (Lizzy wrote the Eulogy and Mary Anne):
  I'm Mary Anne Calabrese, one of Ken Forte’s daughters, and proudly one of Joe Forte’s six grandchildren.  I'm honored to speak here today for a brief moment to help us all celebrate the life of our Grampy, who was also a father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle and friend.  In his wonderful life of 88 years, Grampa wore many hats.  He was a war hero, teacher, principal and assistant superintendent.  All who knew him knew he wore all of these different hats with passion – Grampa put 110% into everything he did.
  According to my Nana, who passed away a little over two years ago, she was attending Salem State and saw a handsome boy who, believe it or not, had curly hair and played basketball & soccer.  Turns out that her story was true.  Before that, when Grampa was in high school, he decided he wanted to earn a varsity letter.  He went to the high school football coach and told him he wanted to play football.  The coach laughed at him and said no. When 5 foot 2 inch Grampa asked him why not, the coach said he’d get killed on the field because of his size.  He directed Grampa to play soccer instead.  At that time, Grampa didn’t even know what soccer was.  He decided to play, was an all scholastic athlete, and did earn that varsity letter.
  Nana and Grampa were married for 63 years – their wedding was in Revere MA at Our Lady of The Sea Catholic Church.  Nana playfully called Grampa “Joey” and would giggle when she said he married an older woman.  Most of us bet that Nana gave Grampa an earful when he joined her in heaven.  She probably asked him what took him so long to join her.
  After Grampa and Nana married, he was off to France and Germany for World War II.  He landed on the beaches of Normandy and took part in the liberation of France and eventual defeat of Germany.  Grampa was a decorated war hero.  He earned a “Bronze Star” medal for valor-in-enemy-action and served in General Patton’s Third Army.  Somewhere in France in August 1944, Germans were blocking a road and General Patton’s advance by shooting with machine guns from a building tower.  Frustrated, General Patton wanted someone to take out the tower and the German machine guns.  One of Patton’s Colonels told him that he had a sharp young Lieutenant by the name of Forte who could do it.  Five minutes later, my Grampa, Lt. Forte, was standing in front of General Patton.  Grampa had a 105 mm jeep mounted cannon and, when asked by General Patton how many shots it would take him, my Grampy said to General Patton, “Just One Sir.”  . . And that is exactly what it took.  Just one shot.  A few minutes later, Grampa made good on his promise and General Patton's Army continued to move through the French town.  Grampa said he did it two more times that month.  Our Grampa was a true patriot and believed in his country.  In his later years, he saluted every flag he passed.  Grampa served over 33 years in the US Army, retiring proudly a Colonel.
  My Dad, Ken, was born while my Grampa was still overseas.  It’s incredible that my Dad didn’t meet his Dad until he was almost two years old.  My grandparents eventually settled in Winchester, Mass, where the rest of their four children, Jan, Paul, and Mark, were born.  They retired from Winchester public schools in 1979 and moved to Bradenton Florida.  They also lived in Orlando for 7 years and finally moved to Clermont, FL in late 2002.
  Both of my grandparents were educators.  Grampa enjoyed teaching and being a principal and superintendent.  In the past week, we’ve heard wonderful, and often funny, stories from people we don’t know who tell us Grampa was their principal.  He was even my Mom, Rita’s, principal 5 years before she met my Dad Ken.  Rumor has it she even got reprimanded by him once.
  My Aunt Jan fondly remembers watching Grampa with curious eyes at his workbench.  He loved to build and make things even when he didn't know exactly what he was doing.  Grampa’s process of figuring things out was instrumental in her love for art, teaching, architecture, construction and furniture making.  Grampa instilled the belief in his children that, if you work hard enough, you can do anything you want.
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Obituary:
Joseph C. Forte — 1919 - 2008
Clermont, FL — Joseph C. Forte, 88, of Clermont, FL passed away Monday, July 14, 2008.  Joseph was born in Cambridge, MA on September 12, 1919 to Anthony and Mary (nee Rogers) Forte.  He was a retired Colonel in the U.S. Army, serving in World War II and after that retired as an assistant superintendant in education.  Joseph was a member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Clermont.
  Mr. Forte is survived by his sons, Kenneth (Rita) Forte of Clermont, Dr. Mark (Susan Shekerow) Forte of Monument, CO and Paul (Kathy Konkle) Forte of Chelmsford, MA; daughter, Janice (Anna Tarquino) Forte of Cambridge, MA; grandchildren Christine, Mary Anne, Elizabeth, Jacqueline, Sophie and Charlotte and great grandchildren, Emily, Christopher, Bryan and Benjamin.  Joseph is predeceased by his loving wife, M. Lorraine Forte.
  Services and interment will take place in Lynn, MA.  An online obituary is available at www.beckerfamilyfuneral.com.   Becker Family Funeral Home, 806 W, Minneola Av, Clermont, FL, (352) 394-7121, is serving the family.
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The Boston Globe, boston.com
Obituary:
Joseph C. Forte   of Clermont FL formerly of Winchester, July 14, 2008, Age 88.  Husband of the late Margaret Lorraine (Roderick) Forte.  Devoted father of Kenneth Forte and his wife Rita of Clermont, FL, formerly of Burlington, Jan Forte and Anna Tarquinio of Cambridge, Dr. Mark Forte and his wife Susan of Monument CO., and Paul Forte and his wife Kathy of Chelmsford.  Grandfather of Christine, Mary Anne, Elizabeth, Jacqueline, Sophie, & Charlotte.  Great Grandfather of Emily, Christopher, Bryan and Benjamin. Uncle of Ellen and John Roderick both of FL. Funeral from the Lane Funeral Home 760 Main St. (Rte. 38) WINCHESTER on Sat, July 19th at 9:30 A.M. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Mary's Church 158 Washington St. Winchester at 10:30 A.M.  Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend.  Visiting hours will be held in the funeral home Friday from 6-8 P.M.  Interment St. Mary's Cemetery, Lynn.  Retired educator for Winchester & Retired WWII Army Veteran of Normandy Lane Funeral Homes Winchester-Burlington 781-729-2580.

Guest Book for Joseph C. Forte
  • I remember Mr. Forte as the Principal of Mystic School and how we taught to be polite, honest and do the best we could at school. We all looked up to him as we thought he was so old but now looking back, he must of been in his 30's when he was the Principal. Our sympathy to his family. Diane Farrell (The Villages, FL)
  • Mr. Forte was our principal at the Mystic School, someone we greatly respected and admired.  When the 6th grade boys broke a school window playing baseball after school, he taught us a new word -- "confiscate".  Then he took our baseball.  He was our "leader".  David Pingree (Philadelphia, PA).
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Ancestry.com. Social Security Death Index [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2008. Original data: Social Security Administration. Social Security Death Index, Master File. Social Security Administration.
  Joseph C. Forte;   Born: 12 Sep 1919;   Died: 14 Jul 2008;   SSN: 030-03-2795;   State (Year) SSN issued: Massachusetts (Before 1951);   Last Residence: Clermont, Lake, Florida 34711.
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  Children of Margaret Lorraine Roderick and Joseph C Forte are:
. .
  7. i. Living5 Forte.
   ii. Living Forte   partnered with Living Tarquino.
   iii. Living Forte   married Living Konkle.
  8. iv. Living Forte.
Endnotes

  1. U.S. Social Security Death Index.

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 3 Jun 2012