Joseph A. Forte

Lexington – Mr. Joseph A. Forte, of Lexington, died Thursday, April 21, 2011 in his home. He was 86.

Joe was born in Newton on June 21, 1924, a son of the late Antonio and Victoria (Totaro) Forte.
A recent Lexington resident, he had lived in Waltham for many years before living in New Hampshire for five years.

During World War II he served with the U.S. Army’s 110th Medical Battalion and left the United States in early May, 1944 arriving in England on the 26th of that month; just in time to participate in the invasion of Europe at Normandy, France on June 6th, 1944. His unit accompanied the infantry battalions into Northern France and the Rhineland, the Ardennes Forest and Central Europe. He fought in what later became known as the ‘Battle of the Bulge’ during the fall and winter of 1944-45. He was wounded in France in October, 1944 earning him a Purple Heart and he was also awarded a Bronze Star for his actions during ground combat in November, 1944.

After the war he began a more than forty year career working as a foreman for the City of Newton Highway Department. Joe was a member of the Joseph F. Hill American Legion Post No. 156 in Waltham and enjoyed golfing and traveling, especially to Florida in the winter.

Joe leaves his beloved wife, Marie P. (LeBlanc) Forte and he was the loving father of Janice Dempsey and her husband, Jack, of Lexington, Ronald Forte and his wife, Nancy, of Carlisle, and Sandi Sambuchi and her husband, John, of Clinton; was the cherished grandfather of Timothy Dempsey, Jacklyn Dempsey, Jason Forte, and Christopher Sambuchi; and also leaves his siblings, Peter Forte of Newton, Rose Forte of Lexington and Palma Nies of Dedham and many nieces and nephews.

Joe was also the brother of the late John Forte and Lucy Paradiso.

Family and friends will honor and remember Joe’s life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham, on Monday from 5 to 8 p.m. and again a 10 a.m. on Tuesday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Jude Church, 147 Main Street, Waltham, where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in Mount Feake Cemetery, Waltham.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Massachusetts General Hospital, Cancer Research Fund, c/o Development Office, 165 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA 02114.