Joseph S. Forte MD

Dr. Joseph S. Forte, 85 of 47 Lake Street, Gardner, died Tuesday, January 24, 2012 in The Highlands, Fitchburg, surrounded by his family following a long illness.
Born in Somerville, MA on January 14, 1927, he was the son of the late Dominick and Teresa (Padovano) Forte.
He graduated from Somerville High School in 1944, after which he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He serviced until being honorably discharged in 1946 having reached the rank of Sergeant Third Grade.
He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1949 after attending Tufts University and the University of Maine. He obtained a Doctorate in Medicine from Boston University in 1953.
While at Boston University, Dr. Forte was made a lifetime member of the National Honor Medical Society. He was also a member of the BEGG Honor Society (Boston University School of Medicine Honor Society). He was certified by The American Board of Surgery in 1962.
Dr. Forte received his post graduate training at St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Boston for two years, the former Pondville Cancer Hospital in Boston for one year, and the Malden Hospital in Malden for two and a half years. It was at Malden Hospital where he met and married his wife, the former Doris McDaniel.
In 1960 he accepted a position at Henry Heywood Memorial Hospital in Gardner after having practiced in his hometown of Somerville for two years. While in Gardner he practiced General Surgery until retiring in 1991, and was Chief of Surgery from 1964 to 1980.
Dr. Forte was on the Gardner Board of Health for 33 years, many of those years as its chairman. He was a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society, the Worcester North Medical Society, the American College of Surgeons, the New England Cancer Society, the Boston University Alumni Association and Alpha Omega Alpha (National Honor Medical Society).
Dr. Forte served as Past President of the Worcester North Medical Society, Past Chief of Staff of Henry Heywood Memorial Hospital, a Past Councilor of the Massachusetts Medical Society, and was former Director of the Massachusetts Cancer Society.
Dr. Forte was Medical Director of General Electric, Everett, MA and Attending Physician of Lumberman's Insurance Company Clinic of Boston. After coming to Gardner he became Medical Director of Digital Equipment Corporation, Westminster, and Collier-Keyworth Company of Gardner from 1962 to 1988.
Dr. Forte was a member of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Gardner.
He leaves his wife of 55 years, Doris (McDaniel) Forte of Gardner; four sons, Joseph S. Forte, Jr. and his wife Helene of Westford, Steven W. Forte and his wife Deirdre of Ashburnham, David D. Forte of Chicago and Paul D. Forte and his wife Stephanie of Peabody; two daughters, Diane M. Forte and her companion Jerry Willis of Gardner and Andrea L. Barry and her husband Derek of Westminster; twelve grandchildren, Erica Forte, Joseph Forte III, Ezra Forte, Timothy Forte, Joshua Forte, Dominique Forte, Tessa Forte, Isabella Forte, Anthony Forte, Emma Barry, Ava Barry and Grace Barry; one step-granddaughter, Chelsea Farmer; and several cousins. Funeral Services will be held Saturday, January 28th from the Boucher Funeral Home, Inc., 110 Nichols Street, Gardner with a Mass at 11:00 a.m. in Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church, 135 Nichols Street, Gardner. Burial will be in Greenbower Cemetery, Gardner.
Calling hours will be Friday, January 27th from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Parkinson Disease Association, Mass. Chapter, 720 Harrison Avenue, Suite 707, Boston, MA 02118 or to Heywood Hospital, 242 Green Street, Gardner, MA 01440.

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