AMESBURY: John J. Forte, 98, died Tuesday, June 29, 2010, in the Amesbury Village Nursing Home. John would have celebrated his ninety-ninth birthday on July 3rd. He was the husband of the late Mary (Coppola) Forte and the late Cecile (Lambert) Forte.
Born in Haverhill, he was the son of the late Donato and Costanza (Digiacomo) Forte who lived in Bisegna, Italy.
John, along with his first wife Mary, was the owner of the Bedford Street Market in Haverhill for many years. In his younger years he worked in the local shoe manufacturing plants. When John was a young man, he enjoyed music and playing the violin and had his own dance band in the 1930's. During his retirement, he resided between Salisbury Beach and Delray Beach, Florida. He was a member of the Salisbury Beach Betterment Association.
He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Daniel F., Sr. and Arlene Forte, of Naples, FL and Scarborough, ME, two grandsons, Daniel F. Forte, Jr. and his wife, Gayle of Kennebunk, ME, and David M. Forte of Alfred, ME, four great-grandchildren, Evelina, Lauren, Christina and David Forte all of Maine, one sister, Edith Lupi and her husband, Edoli of Haverhill and many nieces and nephews. He was also predeceased by his brother, Vincent Forte, a sister, Ann Diguilio, three sisters-in-law, Betty Forte, Angela Procopio and Concetta Pittochelli and five brothers-in-law, Charles Diguilio, Frank and Bruno Coppola, Guido Pittochelli and John Procopio.
A memorial Mass will be celebrated at a later date to be announced by the Linnehan-Grondin Funeral Home, 129 Kenoza Ave., Haverhill. At the request of John's family, there will be no visiting hours. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to the Haverhill Sons of Italy Marching Band, 124 Washington St., Haverhill, MA 01832.