James Ormiston "Jim" Forrest II, 80, of Springfield, VA, passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday, July 25, 2021. Jim was born on February 13, 1941, in Lincoln, NE, to Robert Forrest and Georgia DeVriendt Forrest. As soon as he was old enough to hold a pencil, Jim began a lifetime of drawing, writing, and adventure. While attending Central High School in Omaha, NE, he contributed a record-breaking 70 illustrations to the yearbook, won juried art competitions, joined the ROTC's Crack Squad rifle and drill team, and was editor of the newspaper.

At the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Jim advanced to editor-in-chief of the newspaper, received a distinguished achievement writing award from the William Randolph Hearst Foundation, interned at the Des Moines Register, and worked for the Lincoln Evening Journal. In February 1964, Jim graduated with a bachelor's degree in journalism and a commission as a U.S. Army Intelligence Officer.

During his training at Fort Benning, GA, Jim wrote and edited for Infantry Magazine, and then wrote for the senior NATO commanders while stationed at Seventh Army Headquarters in Stuttgart, West Germany. He left active duty as a Captain in 1967.

After the Army, Jim relocated to Washington, DC, and worked at the National Observer in White Oaks, MD, as a writer and editor until 1977 when The Washington Post Executive Editor Benjamin Bradlee hired him for the Style section. As Art Director, Jim re-shaped the look of Style by designing radically unconventional layouts that earned numerous section front awards; by developing the humorous, pop-culture graphics style that became the signature for Fashion editor Nina Hyde's annual "The List"; and by creating the Gibson Girl-type icon that pictorially defined Judith Martin's "Miss Manners" column. Jim took his publishing career in a new direction in 2014 when he was hired by the U.S. Government Publishing Office to work on Congressional, Presidential, and Federal documents; he worked there for seven years until his death.

Jim was a member of the Columbia Typographical Union, the Washington-Baltimore News Guild, and Kappa Sigma fraternity at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and he volunteered for years with the Diocese of Arlington Catholic Schools' Parent-Teacher Organization.Like his beloved "Shoeless Joe" Jackson, Jim played right field on The Washington Post newsroom's softball team that unexpectedly won back-to-back company tournament titles in the early 1980s. An avid baseball fan, Jim rooted for the Washington Senators, then the Baltimore Orioles, and finally the Washington Nationals; he loved seeing them win it all in 2019.

As much as he enjoyed his many high-profile professional roles, Jim's favorite role was father, and eventually grandfather. He shared his zest for road trips, camping, hockey, cycling, skiing, big band and jazz music, cooking, politics, popcorn, and movies at home with his family.

Jim is survived by his brother, Robert G. Forrest; children, Brent Forrest (Barbara) of Vienna, VA, Heather Rose (Glenn) of Hanover, MD, Jason Forrest (Alayna) of Philadelphia, PA, and Kate Forrest of San José, CA; grandchildren, Brittani, Abigail, Olivia, and Tucker; and great-grandchildren, Julian, Koda, and Kiko. Jim is also survived by former spouse Brenda-Anne Caggiano "B.C." Forrest, who was his best friend, co-parent, fellow baseball nut, and caregiver until his passing, and by former spouse Patricia Fanning, who was a colleague and friend. He was predeceased by former spouse Barbara Jean S. Forrest, who was his high school sweetheart. Jim was a kind man, good friend, and loving father and grandfather who will be greatly missed by those who knew him.

In lieu of flowers, donations in the name of James O. Forrest II may be made to the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation at curemeso.org. Jim will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery.