Longtime Lakeside resident Roy Forman died on May 1 at the age of 78.
Born October 30, 1934 in Detroit, Michigan, Forman graduated from the city’s Cass Technical High School in 1951 and served his country in the U.S. Army as a Signal Corps specialist and radio and television newscaster and disc jockey for AFN, Germany. Later, Forman worked both as a radio disc jockey and television actor.
After moving to El Paso, Texas, where he lived for many years, Forman worked as an investment banker, real estate developer and insurance agency owner. It was in El Paso that he met his late wife, Joan. The Formans retired to Ajijic in 1992.
In 1994, Joan and Roy co-founded the Center for the Mind, Body and Spirit, which became the Open Circle. Although the primary purpose of the group was to offer a place for spiritual growth, the Formans became a collection point for food, clothing and money for the Niños y Jovenes children’s shelter in San Juan Cosala, where they made sure the children had what they needed and enjoyed wonderful Christmas parties.
As he had in El Paso, Forman invested in commercial and residential properties at Lakeside, including a large parcel of land in Jaltepec that he leased at a very reasonable price to the ACA organization that brought new agricultural modes and ideas to local farmers.
His beloved Joan died in April 2012 after a long bout with Alzheimer’s Disease. Forman had been beside her and loving her through the entire ordeal. Joan and Roy were married for 30 years.
He is survived by his sister, Gertrude Stoler, of Florida and an extended family that will celebrate his life for generations.
An event in celebration of Forman’s life was held at the Lake Chapala Society in Ajijic on May 7.