Dennis Joseph Forgue

Dennis J. Forgue of Westchester, Illinois, a Chicago suburb, passed away peacefully April 12th after a lengthy illness. He was 80 years of age. He was surrounded by family and was comfortable in his final days. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.
Mr. Forgue is survived by his brother Robert; his sister Holly (Jim) Cerny; his daughter Melissa Forgue-Heerboth and her three children: Christopher, Daniel and Aidan; and his son Martin (Debby) and their four children: Samantha, Thomas, Ella and Nicolas. Dennis was also a loving uncle to many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his brother Vernon and his beloved wife Marcia Ann.
Mr. Forgue spent his childhood in central Illinois, while his father was working for the State of Illinois in Springfield, before the family moved to the Chicago area. He graduated from Proviso High School in Maywood and then attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale where he received a B.A. degree in U.S. History in 1966.
He began studies at Northwestern University School of Law and the John Marshall Law School but, after a short time, decided to pursue a career in professional numismatics (the hobby and business of rare coins and currency). An offer was made to him to join the prestigious firm of Rare Coin Company of America (Rarcoa) located in downtown Chicago, and he eventually became an officer of the company. After being employed there for more than a decade, he launched his own business and then worked for Harlan J. Berk, Ltd. at the same Chicago address that was previously occupied by Rarcoa. He held a position with that firm for a quarter century and retired in 2019 after more than 50 years in the profession.
Although he was extremely knowledgeable about United States and Foreign Coins, his specialty was rare United States Currency, a field in which he was recognized as a highly regard-ed and distinguished expert. He was a 50-year member of the Professional Numismatists Guild, receiving their Sol Kaplan Award in 1979 for his consumer protection work in the numismatic marketplace. He was also a charter member and past President of the Professional Currency Dealers Association, a more than 50-year member of the American Numismatic Association, Central States Numismatic Society, American Numismatic Society, Society of Paper Money Collectors, Tokens and Medals Society, the Manuscript Society, and many others.
Mr. Forgue was a long-time member and supporter of the Chicago Zoological Society and Brookfield Zoo and was particularly fond of their animal care and conservation projects. In the summer of 2018 he accompanied a group, sponsored by the zoo, on a wildlife tour of Kenya and said about that trip that he had "the time of his life!"
His services will be private. Memorials in his name can be made to Brookfield Zoo, 3300 Golf Road, Brookfield, IL 60513, or to the charity of your choice. https://www.brookfieldzoo.org//donate