BRIDPORT — Brian D. Forbes, 72, passed away Sunday, June 7, at home surrounded by his family. Brian was born March 14, 1948, to Elbert and Dora (O’Brien) Forbes in Middlebury, where he was raised. He shared a special bond with his twin brother Barry (Pete) Forbes and enjoyed retelling stories of their adventures and mischief making.
He graduated from Middlebury Union High School in 1966 and shortly thereafter joined the Vermont Army National Guard 131st Engineers Company. On August 17, 1968, he married his sweetheart and lifelong best friend Linda Sunderland. He was deployed with 131st Engineers to Vietnam for one year, from Sept. 1968-Sept. 1969. Upon his return home to Vermont, he started a career working for Standard Register in Middlebury, where he worked for nearly 40 years.
Brian and Linda built a home in Bridport amongst family and friends. He enjoyed being out in nature and loved to fly-fish the New Haven River, hike the Abbey Pond Trail or to Silver Lake, and pick wild blueberries on Blueberry Hill. He was witty and had a dry sense of humor that was well known to his family and friends, most especially his card playing group (Pete and Martha, Margaret, Darwin and Sue, Bruce and Becky, Larry and Joyce, Lou and Mary), who kept his sense of humor alive and his spirits lifted.
Brian is survived by Linda, his wife of almost 52 years; daughter Kimberly Forbes Spina, son-in-law Nick Spina, and granddaughter Madison Spina; his twin brother Barry (Pete) Forbes and his wife Martha; brother Lynn Forbes and his wife Cindy; sister Dina (Forbes) Bryan and her husband Richard; sister Donna Forbes; brother-in-law Harold Sunderland and his wife Margaret; brother-in-law Larry Sunderland and his wife Joyce; and sister-in-law Joyce Gaboriault and her husband Clement; along with many nieces and nephews.
Special thank you to Dr. Steve Ades and the fantastic nurses and staff, especially Roxxy, at the UVM Cancer Center and Addison County Home Health and Hospice.
At Brian’s request, there will be no funeral services. His family would ask that you consider a donation to Addison County Home Health and Hospice in Brian’s memory.◊