Ian Falconar Forman died peacefully at the age of 91 at Masconomet
Health Care, Topsfield, on Saturday, January 30, 2016.
Ian is survived by his wife, Jean G. Forman of Ipswich and his
children, Wendy F Copithorne and spouse, Eric Copithorne of Ipswich,
Douglas I. Forman and spouse Kimberly Forman of Peabody, Bonnie J.
Forman of Newburyport, Susan F. Hochstedler and spouse Rowen
Hochstedler of Newburyport, Kenneth N. Forman and spouse Angela Muto
of NYC, David Harriman and spouse Mary Harriman of Lutherville
Timonium, MD, and grandchildren, Ian A. Copithorne, Emerald Forman
and Eden Forman, Sarah Harriman and Emily Harriman.
Ian was born on February 28, 1924 in Allahabad, India, the eldest
son of Eleanor C. Forman and Kenneth W. Forman, third generation
Presbyterian Scottish missionaries living in India. His siblings
Kenneth W. Forman and wife Camille Forman, recently deceased of CT;
Richard Forman and wife Edna Forman of CT and Edward Forman of CA,
deceased. The family moved to Danvers in 1929.
Ian attended Brown University for a year before volunteering as an
ambulance driver with the British-Indian Army in Burma with the
American Field Service in WWII. He then joined the Army’s 106th
Infantry Division. While in France he was accepted at the American
University to study history then returned home to finish his degree
at Yale University.
His love of history, politics and writing brought him to his early
career days as a Staff Reporter at the Boston Herald Newspaper then
to the Boston Globe as a Staff Reporter and Editor of the Boston
Sunday Magazine then as Education Editor of the Boston Herald
Traveler.
Over his thirty year career he won countless writing awards for
outstanding state coverage of the Massachusetts public education
system. He joined the Massachusetts State College System as a PR
director which later lead him to working with the Superintendent of
Boston Public Schools for several years.
A passion for all levels of government and politics kept his
retirement busy reading multiple newspapers each day, staying on top
of local, state and national news. He led the largest Ipswich town
meeting in town history in getting mosquito control budgeted for the
town.
After restoring a house on Marblehead harbor, Ian and his wife, Jean
restored one of the oldest houses in the country in Ipswich. Many
people in Ipswich remember Ian for his amazing humor and the
wonderful character he was.
Ian loved his five children and five grandchildren and spent many
days helping restore houses and landscaping with them. Ian was also
a natural arborist and loved planting and watering trees.
Due to two strokes, Ian lived at Masconomet Healthcare for ten
years. Ian had an amazing outlook on life and taught all of his
family and friends the dignity of aging. He read every day and had
many visitors. His wife Jean, son Douglas, daughter Susan and friend
Stewart Duncan came every day to help with care.
The family would like to thank the staff at the Masconomet Health
Care for their years of kindness, care and service.
A private memorial service will be held in April. In lieu of flowers
please send donations to Masconomet Health Care Patient Fund, 123
High Street, Topsfield, MA 01983.
