Robert “Bob” Forest, eighty-two years old, passed away peacefully Wednesday morning, April 15th, 2015 at the Kindred Hospital of Natick.
Bob was born October 8, 1932 to the late John Gerard Forest and Irene (Mitchell) Forest. He was raised in Brockton, attended the Sacred Heart French School, and later graduated from Brockton High School in 1950.
Bob loved children and always wanted to be a teacher. He attended Bridgewater State College, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 1954, and a master’s degree in administration in 1959. As an undergraduate, Bob was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Honors Society and developed a passion for writing and directing plays and musical shows. He would eventually earn a Doctorate in reading from Boston University in 1980.
After graduating from college, Bob began his teaching career nearby in the town of West Bridgewater. While teaching there, he met and fell in love with Sandi Delani. After a brief courtship they were married at Saint Matthews Parish in Dorchester on September 3, 1955. By 1957, Bob was offered positions in the Natick public school system teaching sixth grade at the Lilja and Brown schools. After securing his graduate degree, Bob became Vice Principal of the Bennett-Hemenway school.
After a successful tenure as a teacher and administrator in Natick, Bob was hired as Principal of the Peter Noyes School in Sudbury in 1969. In Sudbury he started writing plays and musicals featuring his students. After two years there, he went to Winchester to become the Principal of the Ambrose School.
In Winchester, Bob was also given the opportunity to develop creative and innovative methods of teaching. He became a pioneer in the open classroom approach to teaching and new methods of team teaching. Bob was not only known for his dedication to public education and his love of children, but having a relentless pursuit of innovation in the classroom. He excelled in bringing out the best in his teachers and eventually became the Superintendent of Schools in Winchester, where he retired in 1983.
Bob also enjoyed a successful second career as an author and writer. He contributed to the Jack and Jill and Highlights children’s magazine and, in 1969, wrote The Bicycle Detectives, a children’s mystery novel. He later co-wrote the best seller Working Words in Spelling series as well as the Quickword Series. In 1983, Bob joined Curriculum Associates full-time and worked on developing creative curriculum for teachers in the elementary school classroom. His publications were very popular, and he became Vice President and Publisher before retiring in 2007.
He was devoted to the profession of teaching and was an active member of the Massachusetts Elementary School Principals’ Association and the Massachusetts Reading Association.
Bob had a variety of avocations. He continued this love of the theater when he moved to Natick, where he wrote and directed seventeen musical community benefit shows at Natick High School and the old Armory building. Each performance would take almost a year of planning and rehearsals, and would boast sell out crowds that raised thousands of dollars for education scholarships and the Leonard Morse Hospital.
One of his greatest joys was singing as a tenor in the St. Linus Parish choir for more than two decades. Bob always had time for his children and grandchildren. He could often be found listening to Broadway show tunes on his satellite radio.
Bob and Sandi would regularly escape to their home on Long Pond in South Yarmouth, where they loved spending time together. On the Cape, he sustained his addiction to word games, puzzles, game shows, reading good fiction, and gardening. Together, they loved living on the pond, and those cloudless nights watching sunsets and the moon rise, with the bright rays of light glistening on the water.
Bob was the loving husband of Sandra P. (Delani) Forest of Natick for sixty years. Cherished father of Mark Forest and his wife Carol of S. Yarmouth, Deborah Adcock and her husband Charles of N. Grafton and Christopher Forest and his wife Melissa of Danvers. Grandfather of Michael and Patricia Forest, Justin and Patrick Adcock and Brighid and Christopher Forest. Great grandfather of Oliver Forest.
Funeral from the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park St., at Natick Common on Tuesday, April 21st at 10:00AM. Mass of Christian Burial in St. Linus Church, 119 Hartford St., Natick at 11:00AM. Relatives and friends respectfully invited.
Visiting hours Monday, April 20th from 4:00-7:00PM in the funeral home. Burial in St. Patrick Cemetery, Natick.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions in Bob’s memory may be made to Metrowest Homecare & Hospice, 200 Nickerson Road - suite 110, Marlborough, MA 01752. For directions, obituary or to send the family a condolence please visit www.everettfuneral.com