A celebration of her life will be held this Saturday, February 2, 2013, 11:00 A.M., at Habing’s Family Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to establish the Esther Forman Scholarship Fund. At this time, checks may be made out in the name of Fred Forman.
Esther Forman: Wife, Mother, Grandma, Auntie, Grantie, Nana, Teacher, Story-teller, Straight-shooter, and Inspiration to Many, passed away peacefully Sunday evening after bravely battling pulmonary fibrosis for many years.
She was born to David and Tomasita Costales in Albuquerque, New Mexico and was raised in a close-knit family along with her big sister Beatrice (Romero), who preceded her in death in 2009.
She accompanied her husband, Fred Forman to Gilroy in 1960 as he pursued his teaching career. While raising a family, she worked as a yard duty supervisor and teacher’s aide as well as serving as a PTA president, and a Cub Scout and Camp Fire Girl Leader. As her children grew, she began night courses at Gavilan College and eventually earned her BA from San Jose State before turning 40.
She had a long teaching career with the Gilroy Unified School District. She taught at Las Animas and Rod Kelly for many years. She was actively involved in the Gilroy Teacher’s Association and served two terms as president. After her “retirement”, she taught at Glen View, Rucker, Eliot, San Ysidro, and Antonio Del Buono Schools; translated; facilitated parent education classes and participated in annual language testing.
She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Fred Forman, children, Douglas (Caroline) and Karen Chavez (Steve), grandchildren, Emilia, Daniel, Lucas and Benjamin and local relatives, Wanda, Ricky and Esther Ann Porcella.
