Robert "Bob" F. Forgue

Robert (“Bob”) Forgue – 1/19/49-1/18/22
As he did hundreds of times at Lebanon Valley Speedway, and according to folklore throughout the streets of the Greater Springfield area, Robert Forgue left everyone behind way faster than expected. Born in Springfield as the only child of Francis Forgue and Rita Forgue (Dufault), he moved to Feeding Hills as a teenager which to him felt like the other side of the world. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Denise Forgue, with whom he lived in Southwick since 1972. He also leaves behind two children, Kristina Forgue and her husband Patrick Lafortune of Enfield, CT; and Jason Forgue and his wife Katharine Forgue of Chester, MA. In addition, six grandchildren: Brian Forgue, Sean Forgue, Evan Forgue, Jayden Lafortune, Adam Forgue, and Peyton Lafortune whom Bob loved more than anything will miss their Pepere greatly.
Bob began his career as a toolmaker for Mitchell Machine & Tool in Springfield in 1966, a year prior to his graduation from Springfield Trade School. He enjoyed his time there and the people he worked with immensely. Without fail, whenever family would visit him at work he would normally be sitting on a forklift with a bagel in his mouth, only to come home later to explain that most of the time he was really working hard. After nearly 40 years with the company, Bob decided to retire from Mitchell’s to go into business with his son, flipping, renovating, and building houses throughout western MA. He did this for almost 10 years before his final retirement.
Bob loved his family, his grass, and his flowers. He had a small circle of friends for most of his life but all were there for him for decades. He was often frank and short-tempered and probably called everyone stupid at some point, but would give you the shirt off his back at a moment’s notice. The last few years of his life were difficult, the last months exceedingly so. Truth of the matter is in the last couple of months Bob lived in fear, primarily the fear of not knowing why he was afraid. Bob’s mother continually repeated that the “Golden Years” was a crock of shit and that saying couldn’t be truer in his case. While all will mourn his loss, his family takes solace in the fact he no longer has to feel afraid and no longer will feel pain. Most have a funny and/or happy story about Bob, and his family asks you to remember those when you think of him.
George Carlin may have best summarized Bob’s view of the world in this quote:
“Think of how stupid the average person is, and then realize that half of them are stupider than that.”

Bob’s calling hours will take place Tuesday, January 25th from 4-7 pm at the Forastiere Funeral Home, 624 College Highway in Southwick.