Below is an obituary from Nichols Funeral Home:
WILMINGTON, MA — Raymond George Forest, “Ray”, age 86, of Wilmington, passed away peacefully at home on May 26, 2023. Born on August 25, 1936, the son of the late Eva and Herve Forest. Ray was raised in Oxford, MA. with his adored sister, the late Ida (Forest) Pearce. After graduating from Oxford High School, he enlisted in the United States Airforce where he served in Germany for the final two years of his service, honorably discharged in 1958. After completing his service, he graduated from Northeastern University with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering.
At Northeastern University Ray met and married the love of his life and best friend, Jane (Thomas). While in college, the two began their love of the tennis. Ray and Jane married on November 26, 1960. After graduating from college, Ray worked as an engineer for Microwave Associates in Burlington. They settled in Wilmington to raise their children. In 1971 he left engineering and founded Forest-Conant Realty, later Realty World Forest- Conant, with business partner and tennis friend, Bruce Conant. Ray and Jane continued working in Real Estate until their retirements in their late 70’s.
Ray was an active member of the Board of Realtors and the Mass Association of Realtors, serving as president, and member of the Profession Standards and Ethics Committee. Ray was a fierce defender of ethical practices in real estate. Ray was generous with his time, teaching real estate classes and mentoring many new brokers. He was named Realtor of the Year for the Eastern Middlesex Board of Realtors in 1980 and Realty World of New England franchisee of the Year in 1983. Ray was active in the Town of Wilmington for many years, serving as President of the Chamber of Commerce and on the Affordable Housing Task Force. Ray was a founding member of the Wilmington Tennis Club.
Ray was active his whole life. He enjoyed tennis with Jane and with his dear friend and next-door neighbor, John Braciska. John and his wife, Bobbi were the best friends and neighbors through all of Ray’s difficulties, visiting him in the hospital, rehabilitation center, and walking daily with he and Jane. Ray learned to play pickleball at 80 years old. He and Jane developed many good friends through this sport as well, especially those from the Lowell YMCA.
Ray enjoyed time at camp in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont with Jane, his kids, and grandchildren. There were many games played (especially Scrabble, cribbage, and horseshoes), walks taken, swimming at local lakes and golfing at Grandad’s Golf Course. Discovering Grandad’s began a new family tradition of golfing that Ray and Jane enjoyed and shared with their children and grandchildren. Ray also treasured annual trips to Portage Lake in Maine and visiting with his mother-in-law’s family, especially Peggy Woodman, Jane’s aunt. Over the years Ray and Jane enjoyed traveling to real estate conventions (Hawaii, New Orleans, Los Vegas and San Diego). In 1986, Ray and Jane took all three of their children to Hawaii.
In addition to his wife Jane and his beloved dog, Mocha, Ray is the father of three children and their spouses; Michele and Joe Stump, Becky Forest and Dave Bulley, and Russell and Diane Forest; he is “Gramps” to Thomas and Andrea Forest, Sarah Forest and Dylan Langone, Benjamin Forest and Ashley Figucia, Joseph Forest, Uriah Forest-Bulley and Jenessa Talarico, and Summer Forest-Bulley and Katie Clark; great-grandfather to Bentley Langone; and uncle to Sharon (Thomas) Simon, Robert (Lauren) Pearce, Thomas (Pam) Pearce, Lisa Thomas, Leslie Thomas, and Richard (Holly) Thomas, Deidre Austin, Eric Austin, and Mike (Patty) Austin. Ray is predeceased by his parents (Herve and Eva) and his mother-in-law, Amelia (Woodman) Thomas, whom lived with and were cared for by Ray and Jane until their passing. He is also predeceased by his father-in-law Orin Thomas, who inspired him to become a realtor, his only sister, Ida (Hal) Pearce who he shared a very close bond with his entire life; his brothers-in-law Dick (Pat) Thomas and Stephen Thomas, and sisters-in-law Mary Austin and Laurie Thomas. The family would like to thank the Bedford VA, First Light Home Care and all the aids who assisted in caring for Ray in his final year. With their assistance, Ray was able to remain at home.
Family and friends will gather at the Knights of Columbus in Wilmington on Wednesday, June 14th from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. for a celebration of Ray’s life. To leave a message of condolence for the family and to find more details of the Celebration of Ray’s Life please visit www.nicholsfuneralhome.com.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Ray’s memory to the Wilmington Buzzell Senior Center, 15 School St., Wilmington, MA 01887 or the Alzheimer’s Association, 309 Waverley Oaks Road, Waltham, MA 02452.
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