John Douglas Forbes
April 9, 1910 - January 19, 2018
John Douglas Forbes, PhD, passed away on January 19, 2018, at the age of 107, at his home in Charlottesville, Virginia, following a long illness.
Dr. Forbes was born in San Francisco on April 9, 1910, to the late John Franklin Forbes and Portia Ackerman Forbes. He earned the BA from the University of California, Berkeley (1931); the MA from Stanford University (1932) and the MA from Harvard University (1936); and the PhD from Harvard University (1937). After his tenure as Curator of Art at the 1939 World’s Fair in San Francisco, he taught at the University of Kansas City (now the University of Missouri at Kansas City); at Bennington College; at Wabash College; and at the Colgate Darden School of Business Administration at the University of Virginia, where he was also the Founding Professor. After retirement from the Darden School, Dr. Forbes continued to teach art history at the University of Virginia until his final retirement in 2003.
Dr. Forbes was a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army in 1942 with an Honorable Discharge.
John D. Forbes grew up in Mill Valley, Marin County. He loved to hike on Mount Tamalpais and was still walking on the mountain as late as 2005. For many years, he would be seen flying kites on the Marina Green.
Dr. Forbes was a Life Member of many organizations, including Phi Beta Kappa and The Mechanic’s Institute. He was a 50-year Member of The PacificUnion Club.
John D. Forbes was predeceased by his parents; by his first wife, Margaret F. Forbes; and by a daughter, Penelope. He is survived by his second wife, M.E. Forbes; by his children, Pamela Forbes, Peter Forbes, and Michael Forbes; by his grandchildren, Alexander John Forbes, II, Anne de Marcken Forbes, Sophia F. McLane, and Allegra L. Forbes; by brothers- and sisters-in-law; and numerous former students and friends.
Dr. Forbes will be interred at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery. The family asks that memorial contributions he sent to: the University of Virginia, in care of Lee Forker, 718 Main St., Hingham, MA 02043, with the Memo: “In Memory of Dr. John D. Forbes”; or to Caring for Creatures, 352 Sanctuary Lane, Palmyra, VA 22963, with the Memo: “In Memory of Dr. John D. Forbes.”