Rev. Gerald J. Forkin, OMI
...Oblate Father, teacher,administrator; 78
TEWKSBURY - Rev. Gerald J. Forkin, OMI, died unexpectedly Saturday afternoon, January 3,2004, at the Oblate residence in Tewksbury, MA. He was 78 and had suffered from Parkinson'sdisease for a number of years.
He was born in Watertown, MA, the son of the late James and Laura (Kilbride) Forkin, atwas educated at St. Patrick's schools. After a year at Holy Angels Collegiate Institute in BuffaloNY (the Oblates' junior seminary), he entered the novitiate in Tewksbury and took his first vowsin 1945. He studied at the Oblate seminary in Washington, DC, and was ordained a priest thereon June 2, 1952 by Bishop Arsene Turquetil, OMI, retired bishop from the Canadian North.For almost 25 years, Fr. Forkin devoted himself to teaching, first to seminarians at the Oblateseminaries in Tewksbury and Newburgh, NY, and then to high school students at Bishop Fallonand Bishop Neumann High Schools in Buffalo, NY. During his fifteen years at Fallon, he taughtLatin and Religion, was Treasurer of the school, and oversaw the cafeteria service. He wasassistant principal at Neumann School from 1969-1972 before returning to Fallon.
When Bishop Fallon High School closed in 1975, Fr. Forkin moved into parish ministry asa pastor, first at St. Joseph in Dallastown, PA for 6 years, then 6 years at inner-city St. Bridget'schurch in Indianapolis, IN, and finally back to Pennsylvania at Our Lady of Good Counsel inMarysville and St. Bernadette's in Duncannon.
When his illness first struck him, he spent 3 years at Sacred Heart Church in Lowell, MAbefore being forced by deteriorating health to the Oblate Infirmary in Tewksbury in 1997.
No matter where he was, Fr. Forkin kept in touch with his students and formerparishioners. His mail was voluminous and came from the four corners of the world. Even as hisbody suffered, his mind remained clear and allowed him to maintain contact with hundreds ofpeople.
He is survived by his brother, John, of Brockton, MA, several nieces and nephews, friendsall over the world, and his Oblate family.
His Funeral Mass was held Wednesday, Jan. 7, in the Oblate Chapel in Tewksbury. A spring time burial will be scheduled in the Oblate Cemetery.
Donations in memory of Fr. Forkin may be made to the Oblate Infirmary Fund, PO Box419, Tewksbury MA 01876.