Obituary-Brother Robert James Forman
(11 July 1931 - 8 June 2011)
From Today's Marist Brother Advent 2011:
Sometimes in our lives we are given the gift of meeting people who indeed give "all to Jesus" and who through their words and deeds seem to understand what is important in life. Br. Robert James was indeed such a man. He was an intellect earning degrees in Spanish and Theology. He would eventually move on to being an important part in the formation of so many young Brothers, and lat er becoming Principal and Assistant Principal in Marist Schools in Bayonne, Roselle, and Newark, NJ. What Br. Robert did on this earth was never to bring glory and honor to himself, but it was always directed toward the good of the other.
Of all the roles that Br. Robert assumed, the one that characterized him best was that of being "teacher." It was in this role as teacher that he indeed gave all to Jesus through Mary. Br. Robert held nothing back.
11 July 1931 Born Brooklyn NY to Helen (McCabe) and Charles Forman
1949-50 St Joseph Novitiate, Tyngsboro MA (Postulant)
1950 Received Holy Habit, Tyngsboro MA
1950-51 St Joseph Novitiate, Tyngsboro MA (Novice)
1951 Professed First Vows, Tyngsboro MA
1951-54 Marist College, Poughkeepsie NY (Scholastic)
1954 Marist College, Poughkeepsie NY (BA Spanish)
1954-56 Mount Saint Michael, Bronx NY (Teacher)
1956 Professed Perpetual Vows, Esopus NY
1956-1961 Marist Preparatory, Esopus NY (Teacher)
1960 Univ Notre Dame, South Bend IN(MA Theology)
1961-66 Marist Novitiate, Esopus NY (Teacher)
1966 Professed vow of Stability, Marist Generalate, Rome Italy
1966-67 Marist Generalate, Rome, Italy (Year of Spirituality)
1968-74 Marist High School, Bayonne NJ (Principal)
1974-75 Union Catholic HS, Scotch Plains NJ (Teacher)
1975-80 Marist High School, Bayonne NJ (Teacher)
1980-88 Roselle Catholic HS, Roselle NJ (Teacher)
1988-95 Queen of Angels School, Newark NJ (Assistant Principal)
1995-97 Marist High School, Bayonne NJ (Teacher)
1997-2008 Roselle Catholic HS, Roselle NJ (School Services)
2008-11 Champagnat Hall, Bronx NY (Retired)
8 June 2011 died, Calvary Hospital, Bronx NY
John Dillon, 1960 writes: He was my favorite teacher. He made learning Spanish a breeze for me. This photo was taken in the Esopus Juniorate rec room with the fireplace in 1957 or 1958. A wonderful teacher, Brother and man of God.
This photo was taken about 1951 at Sunset Lake, where the student brothers took short vacations. By coincidence, the student brother on the raft is Brother Robert McGovern who spent thirty five years in the Philippine Missions. He returned to the US in early June 2011 and was able to attend the funeral service for Brother Robert held in Esopus on 11 June 2011. The Marist Brotherhood circles the globe.
Tom Restivo, 1959 writes: Just heard of Bro. Robert James' passing, I had him for Latin and Spanish at the Prep. He was Great.......
Source: Original Marists All Site
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