Albert Louis Forest

Steadfast, hard-working, diligent, bright, caring, insightful, capable, courteous, sociable, and fun-loving: Al Forest was all these things and more. Al was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts to a French-Canadian family from New Brunswick, Canada. He had two brothers�Gerald and George�and two sisters�Louise and Diana. As he grew up he spent his summers in New Brunswick assisting with farm chores on the family farm. In Cambridge he was active in Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and the Drum and Bugle Corp. By his own account he sometimes was given to mischievous behavior in the parochial schools he attended and would have to be settled down by exasperated teaching nuns. Al joined the United States Air Force in 1951. He was a gunner in B29s with the 18th Fighter Bomber Wing in Korea. Al achieved the rank of Airman First Class, E-3. He was awarded a Good Conduct Medal on April 1, 1955. He was discharged from the Air Force in 1955 and returned home to Cambridge. In Cambridge Al took a job with Kawneer as a warehouseman. The company was a good fit for Al. He moved up to the position of sales rep and when he retired he was the sales rep for 14 western states. In that capacity Al worked with architects and builders of large commercial buildings in planning the utilization and installation of Kawneer products in those structures. It was well that Al liked to drive and was a good driver because the fourteen western states cover a very large territory. There were many trips to Phoenix and Las Vegas. Al met Rovena Gaudet in 1957 and they were married in 1959. Rovena, too, was from a French Canadian family, but with roots in Prince Edward Island, Canada. Rovena had grown up in the greater Boston area and was friends with Al's sisters. Rovena remembers happy times with dates on the Esplanade in Boston listening to the Boston Pops Orchestra. They both liked to dance and attended big band dance concerts in the greater Boston area. Kawneer moved Al to their New Jersey location; he and Rovena settled in New Milford, New Jersey. Their son, John, was born in Englewood, New Jersey in 1960. Kawneer had a plant in Richmond, California; they asked Al to move to Richmond in 1962. Their daughter, Leanne, was born in Richmond in May 1962. They purchased their first home in Pinole, California in 1965. It was on a hill and a strong, steady wind blew in from the bay all the time. Al recalled having a hard time trying to put on back yard barbecues. In Pinole, with typical energy, Al became involved in various civic and church organizations. He worked with the Sea Scouts, the Teen Club, and the Marine Memorial. He taught CCD classes for the Catholic Church. They began camping trips in the Sierra Nevada Mountains with their children. In 1971 Kawneer moved their manufacturing plant to Visalia�where it remains today. All of the employees, Al and Rovena as well, moved to Visalia. Al and Rovena bought the family home on Mountain Drive in Visalia in 1971. In Visalia Al volunteered with many organizations, including the American Cancer Society, and was on the Board of Directors for the Good News Center with Sister Kenneth, the Mended Hearts Club, and the Visalia Dance Club. He was foreman of the Tulare County Grand Jury in 1993-94. He taught CCD at St. Mary's parish in Visalia. He was a member of the Managers Club at Kawneer. And, of course, there were many long road trips on behalf of Kawneer. Al retired in 1992 and he and Rovena founded Forest Tours and Travel. They organized and conducted bus tours to theaters and museums in the Bay Area and Southern California and short weekend trips to the California Gold Rush country. They also organized and conducted several riverboat cruises on Mississippi river paddleboats�the Delta Queen, the American Queen and the Mississippi Queen. Together with Bill and Marylin Silveira they attended Mardi Gras in New Orleans twice. Al and Rovena loved to travel. Their travels included Bermuda, the Bahamas, Mexico, Hawaii, Tahiti, Canada, and many countries in Europe. They also took several ocean cruises. Al was an avid golfer. In retirement he was really able to enjoy golf and enjoyed the game twice a week with his golfing buddies. He was a volunteer at the US open in Pebble Beach. His other avocation was crossword puzzles. Al could often be seen filling in the blank spots. Al and Rovena acquired time shares in San Francisco and Beaver Creek, Colorado in 1995. Al especially enjoyed the Rocky Mountains. Marylin and Bill Silveira were their guests at St James Place in Beaver Creek for many years. They enjoyed spirited games of Scrabble. They hiked and took day trips to nearby towns. Al and Rovena enjoyed participating in the Visalia AAUW couples group and hosted several dinners in their home. Al is survived by his wife, Rovena Forest; son, John Forest; and his daughter, Leanne Mokros and her husband, David. His daughter-in-law Deborah Forest predeceased him. He is also survived by his sister, Diana Azevedo. Also surviving Al are his grandchildren, James Forest Mokros, Maggie May Mokros, Sarah Forest George, her husband, Thomas, and Al's great grandchild, Cal Wilder George. Al dearly loved his grandchildren and his great grandchild. He would speak of them often. Al made many friends and acquaintances. He will be missed by all who knew him. There will be a memorial service for Al at Salser & Dillard Funeral Chapel, 127 E. Caldwell Avenue, Visalia on October 20, 2018 at 12:00 noon. In lieu of flowers, his family suggests that you donate to your favorite charity, the American Cancer Society, or The Tulare County Symphony.

Albert Louis Forest

January 5, 1935 - August 28, 2018