Forrest L. Gould

1928 - 2017

Forrest L. Gould of Needham, died Wednesday July 19, 2017 at age 89 due to complications from an advanced renal condition. Forrest Litchfield Anthony Gould was born in Cambridge on June 14, 1928. He attended St. Marys High School in Waltham and served in the U.S. Army as a PFC, stationed at Fort Dix, N.J., toward the end of the Second World War. Upon his discharge he attended Harvard College on the GI Bill of Rights. He earned a bachelors degree as a member of the class of 1952, playing hockey for Dudley House and enjoying bridge and political conversations with his commuter classmates. Forrest is survived by his wife of 63 years, Sally, five childrenMaria, David, Peter, Joan and F.J.and 14 grandchildren. Daughters-in-law Kerry (Ward) Gould and Claudia Kupervaser, as well as sons-in-law Geoff Cronin and John Kelley, will also miss Forrest greatly. His life was defined by his marriage to Sally and the joys and challenges of raising a large family. In the mid-1950s, Forrest was employed by General Electric, but opted to go the entrepreneurial route, starting his own business in 1960. The Forrest Gould Company grew to become a well-regarded sales representative agency that 50 years later enjoys continued success under the direction of his son, Peter Gould. Forrest and Sally moved from Newtonville to Needham in 1962, purchasing a home at 17 Coulton Park. Forrest lived there happily for 55 years. In business as well as in his social life, he made a strong impressiontall, handsome and articulate, with a resonant baritone voice, a poised manner and a ready wit. Calling on customers was one of his great loves, and he continued to do so until he was in his early 80s. Forrest displayed an effortless command of factual information from many fields, including history, politics, music and diverse areas of science. In the tumultuous period of the 1960s, he was unwavering in his progressive beliefs, supporting social equality and opportunity for all. He was an ardent fan of the Red Sox, the Patriots and the Harvard Crimson hockey team. During the years when his grandchildren played varsity sports at Needham High, their ever-loyal Bopper would seldom miss a game. Forrest exuded warmth, kindness and natural generosity, beneath which lay an unyielding moral conscience. Deeply loving of his children, he leaves in each of them a conviction to honor and emulate his unique humanity. We are grateful to Fr. Steve Josoma for the kindness and attention he showed to Forrest during those last few months. Visiting hours at St. Susannas Church, 262 Needham St., Dedham, Monday, July 24, 4-7p.m. Funeral mass at St. Susannas Church, Tuesday, July 25 at 9 a.m. with burial immediately following at St. Marys Cemetery, Needham. The family encourages donations in Forrests memory to fund Type 1 diabetes research, in lieu of flowers. Send checks to JDRF, 60 Walnut St., Wellesley Hills MA 02481. Online guestbook at gfdoherty.com. Arrangements by George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, Needham.