Allen Lee Forbes
ALLEN LEE FORBES – 39, died March 16, 1995 at his home. He was born November 5, 1955 in Bellingham, WA and was a resident of Clark County for 35 years. He worked as a Lead Processor/Auditor for Tecktronix for 16 years. He was President of Northwest Rainbow Alliance for the Deaf a total of 4 years; DSHS Advisory Board Member: TTY Distributor for the State of Washington; President of the Fort Vancouver Association of the Deaf; House Parent at Washington School of the Deaf; named “Outstanding Young Man of America” in 1989; Vice President of DEAF GLOW Organization; one of the Founders of Southwest Washington Center of the Deaf; served on the HIV/AIDS Advisory Board; Graduate of Washington School for the Deaf in 1976; and received Associates Degree in Early Childhood Development from Seattle Community College in 1978. He was preceded in death by his father, L. Rex Forbes in 1981. He is survived by his mother, Bette Lillian Forbes of Bellingham, WA; brother Wiliam and wife Barbara Forbes of Seattle, WA; 1 nephew, 2 nieces, and 2 grand-nieces; numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins; and partner of 10 years, Rick Spencer. A viewing and visitation was held Saturday March 18, 1995 at Hamillton-Mylan Funeral Home in Vancouver from 1:00 P.M until 5:00 P.M. A memorial service will be held Sunday March 19, 1995 at 2:00 P.M. at the Washington School for the Deaf, in the Auditorium, 611 Grand Blvd., Vancouver, WA. Memorials may be made to N.W.R.A.D./Forbes Foundation, 1910 East 33rd St., Vancouver, WA 98663.
Submitted by Meredith Peruzzi | Transcribed by Nanette Edwards
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Obituary #2
Named “Outstanding Young Man of America” in 1989, Allen Lee Forbes, 39, died of AIDS Thursday, March 16, 1995, at home.
Allen graduated from Washington School for the Deaf in 1976 and received an Associates Degree in Early Childhood Development from Seattle Community College in 1978. Allen was the president of Northwest Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf for four years, president of Fort Vancouver Association of the Deaf, and an advisory board member of the Department of Social and Health Services. He was also the vice president of DeafGLOW, a founder of Southwest Washington Center of the Deaf, and he served on the HIV/AIDS Advisory Board.
Born November 5, 1955, in Bellingham, Washington, Allen lived in Vancouver and had been a resident of Clark County for 35 years. He was a lead processor and auditor at Tektronix for 16 years.
Allen was preceded in death by his father, L. Rex Forbes in 1981. He is survived by his mother, Better Lillian Forbes of Bellingham, Washington, his brother and sister-in-law William and Barbara of Seattle, Washington, one nephew, two nieces, two grand-nieces, numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends, a beloved pet, Samantha and his special companion and partner of ten years, Rick Spencer.
Submitted by Curtis Peart, WSDAA Historian
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April 9th, 2015 at 9:21 pm
I met Allen in 1979, while working at Tektronix. As the ‘new kid’, I was given 90 days to learn enough ASL so I could communicate with him. He was very gracious in his evaluation of my abilities.
I remember Allen as full of fun and laughter, a mischievous young man with a heart of gold.
I left Tektronix in 1981, and due to my lack of a TTY, I lost track of Allen. After a full career in electronics, I applied to dental school at OHSU and was accepted in 1997. It was during that time I learned of Allen’s passing. In memory of Allen, I applied for a faculty position to work in the OHSU Russell Street Clinic and was accepted. I dedicated my 3 years there to my memory of Allen, in the hopes that his spirit would find happiness in the service we provided there to the HIV community. Fully 70% of my patients were HIV positive, and each and every one were greeted with the warmth and friendship that I wish I could have continued to share with Allen.
The lessons Allen taught me remain alive to this very day:
Treat every day as a gift and a pleasure.
Treat every human as a gift and a friend.
Treat every emotion your friends express with respect, joy, support and kindness.
Treat everyone you meet as if they are your best friend.
I miss my friend Allen.
I wish I could have been there for him.
Randall C Jones, DMD
Independence, OR