Denise Forte-Pathroff

Dr. Denise Forte-Pathroff, M.D., 61, died peacefully in her home, surrounded by her family, Feb. 24, 2018.

Denise Forte was born Feb. 8, 1957, in Brooklyn, N.Y., to Enis and James Forte. She grew up the oldest of three sisters on Long Island, N.Y., where her parents were professors. At 15, she met Bob Pathroff at a party in the Pocono Mountains, where their parents had summer homes. She knew they would be together the moment she saw him, and she loved him, and he her, for over 45 years. They were married Aug. 3, 1979.

Denise was driven, fearless, and never backed away from any challenge in her life, traits that served her well as she pursued her dream of becoming a physician. She majored in biology at Tufts University in Boston, and graduated from Tufts University Medical School. She interned in internal medicine at Abington Memorial Hospital in Pennsylvania and completed her residency in dermatology at Temple University in Philadelphia and the University of Minnesota. After finishing her medical training two years ahead of Bob, a urologist, she commuted from Rochester, Minn., to Bismarck every other week to her fledgling practice here, where she was one of only a handful of female physicians at the time.

Denise maintained a busy dermatology practice in Bismarck for 30 years and was a talented, compassionate physician. She said taking care of her patients was the greatest honor of her life, and was her ministry and her calling. As a physician, she was distinguished as much by her empathy as her skill, and she was loved by her patients.

Denise was constantly on the go, and sought out new adventures and challenges throughout her professional life. She developed and marketed a successful line of skin care products and held a patent for a child anti-abduction system. She served 11 years on the North Dakota Board of Medical Examiners and 15 years on the Board of Sanford (Medcenter One) nursing school, 11 of those as Chairperson. She was also a director at BNC National Bank and BNC Holding Company for many years.

Denise had a dynamic personality and was a larger-than-life presence in the lives of her family and friends. She was the go-to source of advice and counsel for many, and she was a constant inspiration and support to Bob and their two sons, R.J. (30) and Dennis (28), who remain in awe of her. She was thrilled to become "Nona" to grandson Robert Scott Pathroff. One of the great passions of her life, which she shared with her son Dennis, was horses and horseback riding. She cherished her time riding her favorite horse, Lucky, and traveling the country with Dennis as he rode on the American Quarter Horse Association circuit.

She is survived by her husband, Dr. Bob Pathroff; her sons, R.J. Pathroff (Dr. Kellen Pathroff) and Dennis Pathroff (fiancée Jessica Gendreau); her grandson, Robert Scott Pathroff; her sisters, Janice Forte (Scott Weiant) and Laura Forte (Vincent Ferraro); her sister-in-law, Jan Townsend (Jeff Townsend); her brother-in-law, David Pathroff (Kathy Pathroff); and numerous nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Enis and James Forte; and her parents-in-law, Delores and Dr. Robert Pathroff.

A memorial service will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 1, at Parkway Funeral Home, Bismarck.

In lieu of flowers or memorials, please spend a moment thinking of a fond memory you shared with Denise.