Tommy,Its been over 6 years and the pain is no easier. I miss you brother and look forward to seeing and talking with you again.LoveBobby Forte

This message is more so for the benefit of Rebecca & Thomas. My name is Chuck and I first met your dad back in 1980 while stationed @ NAS Patuxent River. Tom & myself bonded instantly. We formed a friendship that would continue forever. We always worked well together as controllers and like typical sailor's we also played well together. Many times your dad invited me to your home for dinner and this was when I had the pleasure of meeting the two of you when you were just little kids. Eventually Tom & I would transfer elsewhere and we lost touch for about 14 years or so. Ironically, while working @ the miami air traffic control center our paths would cross due to the destruction of his facility thanks to hurricane andrew. I think we were both shocked by this strange turn of events that would reunite us. The ensuing years would allow us to get together and catch up. Your dad was a dear friend and a mighty fine controller. He absolutely loved pushing tin. Tom & I shared a common bond and it was my absolute pleasure to have known him. You two were Tom's pride & joy. Respectfully, Chuck Reininger

I love and miss you always, til we see each other again in Heaven. Your niece Tina.

A little more than 13 months and my heart still breaks. I miss you so much. Dad...several persons said to me that you really loved Tommy and me SO much; but I'd like to know....Did you know how much we loved you? My dearest Grandmother on my mother's side died 25 days before you. I was quite close to her and loved her dearly. The shock of losing so soon after, thinking of all the missed opportunities.....oh my. Several days ago, I lost my Aunt Ethel, sister to Grandma, exactly 14 months to the date. I meant to write something here last week in remembrance, but I did not get to it then. Now with yet another painful loss in my heart, let me tell you that I loved and love you, that I miss you so much. `Your daughter, Rebecca.

Tom , I think of you often dear Brother ....... You are always on my mind as I fly across our great land that you loved so much ......... God bless you always and your dear family and friends , we sorely miss you and can't wait to see you again

Dear Mary and the Forte Family, I extend my deepest condolences to you. Tom was always laughing or smiling and I know he enjoyed life and loved you. I am so sorry for your devastating loss. God Bless you all. Sincerely, Riva Fralick (RV)

I wish I had the right words to say, so I will speak from my heart. I met Tom in 1978 in Corpus Christi. He introduced me to Bill Cosby. He has been a good friend all these years and I will miss our conversations. He was a good father to Rebecca and Thomas and his grandson , Andrew. His passing will be remembered by us all.At the same time, we know where he is, so we haven't lost him. I can imagine that he and my beloved mother, who went ahead on March 3,2013, are getting to talk some more. His tender tribute to her is so greatly appreciated.My deepest love and affection goes to his family and I pray the Lord will sustain us and guide us through these sad and difficult times. God bless you all.

I am saddened by Tommy's passing, but at the same time, feeling blessed to be part of his family. I never thought of him as a brother-in-law, but a brother. His compassion and wisdom is what I remember most about Tommy. Every time I spoke with him by phone, or had the opportunity to visit in person, he was always positive and gave me so many words of wisdom that will stay with me for a lifetime! I grieve not for Tommy, but for his family, and for my husband Bobby(his brother). I am also saddened because he will not get to see my son Thomas, (whom he also called "tater head") grow up to be a wonderful husband and father like his Uncle Tommy, and to see my beautiful girls, Gabrielle and Madeline, blossom into mature young women and become loving wives and mothers, as Mary was to Tommy! I will miss him "GREATLY", but know that I'm a better person just for knowing him. I thank you Tommy for welcoming me into your family, but most of all for loving me as your sister!! I Love you Mary, and can't express into words how deeply sorry I am.

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I only knew Tommy for a few short years but in those years I felt like he & Mary were not just co-workers but friends. Tommy had his "southern twang" and funny catch phrases like "tater head", he always could put a smile on everyone's face. He was a wonderful husband to Mary, a family man and had a contagiously positive outlook on life. I will miss you Tommy!

Tom welcomed me into his family with open arms when I started dating his son Andrew. We talked, he mentored and I followed his advice. He met his grandson Nathan Christmas of 2011 (Tom's favorite holiday) and loved Nathan from the time they met. He was such a great father to Andrew and I feel that Andrew wouldn't be the person he is today without Tom. Tom was always smiling, laughing and cracking jokes! I loved him like he was one of my own family members. I will miss his No Obama political rants and his sense of humor. He was such a kind hearted, loving, spiritual man. Andrew and I are deeply saddened by this tragic and unexpected event. He will be in our hearts and memories forever and we will sure remind Nathan that his grandfather is now the angel looking down on him and our family taking care of us.

I felt very sad when I heard of Tom's passing, but then I felt great joy when I began to remember the man himself. Tom had a sense of humor that only Mary could understand. A southern gentleman, a great husband, and father. I can't believe that I will never hear those famous words "tater head". I only knew Tommy for a short time, but in that short time he demonstrated his strong love for Mary, that love is something that I will never forget. Wear those speedos proudly up in heaven my friend.

I last saw Tom when he had come to Memphis for a few days, he made sure to call me and let me know that he was going to be here and that we needed to get together for a much overdue visit. We made the contact and enjoyed seeing each other after roughly 36 years, we were stationed at Navy Corpus Christi back in the mid '70s, and we lived in the barracks there on base, so we knew each other pretty well. Tommy was a jolly, always laughing at something kind of guy, he always made everyone feel at ease with his easy giggles and laughs ........... I can still hear him laughing !!! I could tell he was good guy, hard working and proud of his background, always telling me "the south will rise again" ......... and I loved to hear it. Tommy quickly made his way through the job, he was eventually in charge of his own control tower at one of Navy outlying airfields, Navy Cabaniss. Tom was the kind of guy that could get the job done, and he always put 150% into whatever he did. He was very clean, fastidious and picky about his appearance and his gorgeous Pontiac Firebird car. We always made it a point to get off the base and go eat a Whataburger meal ............ Tommy loved those burgers!I was flying into Fort Lauderdale every now and then with FedEx and we agreed that sometime I would try to meet up with him there, but as schedules go, we just could not make that happen. But Tommy made this trip here to Memphis back in the Fall of 2012, and we finally joined up and had a great meal together and it was just great !!! When we parted, we promised to get together real soon ............... I knew from that meeting that Tommy was Saved, a devout Christian man and that he knew where he was going after this Life ..........God Bless you Brother, and I hope we meet up again in that Control Tower in the Sky .............

I met Tommy in the mid 70's cannot repeat what he told my the boyfriend, who has been my husband. But it was off the wall funny. He was also a super clean freak then. We lost our son 5 weeks ago today, so we know the emptyness of loss, esp to Tom's father. It hurts like the dickens, but we have survived each day by taking one step at a time. God has a reason for everything and we are still searching for our reason, as you will. God bless and keep you safe at this time. Betty and DJ Tierney

I have whole heartedly felt like part of Tom's family very early into my relationship with his daughter Michelle. He welcomed me into his family and had never treated me like nothing but a son. He walked my beautiful wife down the isle of our wedding and trusted me with one of the most important people in his wonderful life. I will always remember him as a man who loved his faith, loved to laugh, complain about politics (whoever was in office), a role model and a man who loved his wife Mary more than I can comprehend. I will miss him dearly and I will do everything in my power to take care of the family he loved so much. I don't cry for him because he is exactly where he knew he would be, I cry because he can never be replaced to us. I love you Tom and I will always smile when I think about you, I can only hope to be as good of a husband, father, grandfather and friend as you were to so many of us. I miss and love you!

I have many fond memories of Tom from the time we started working together at Miami AIFSS. Most of the memories involve laughs. He had a laugh that was honest and infectious. On a more serious note, Tom took the time to visit with my family when my youngest daughter was in a very serious accident. It was a short visit because while he was giving me encouragement my daughter regained consciousness after having been in a coma for 3-days. We hugged and I ran to her side. His visit meant the world to me. And now my lasting memory of Tom was just over two weeks ago. I was in south Florida and had the opportunity to visit with Tom for just over an hour. He was on his way out for a Doctor's appointment with respect to his upcoming back surgery. He was so optimistic about the surgery and looking forward to getting back out on the golf course with me. That was on March 13, 2013. He was upbeat even though he was in pain, and that's how I will remember Tommy. Tommy, you will be missed. Sincere condolences to Mary, his kids, and the rest of Tommy's family. You are in my thoughts.

My earliest memories are of my dad. I think I was still 3 years old, but I remember my dad. I remember when my sister and I were kids, we always looked forward to dad coming to visit us. I remember going to Disney World with Dad, Mary, Andrew, and Michelle. When we were adolescents, I remember how hard he tried to make sure we knew we were loved and how hard he tried to help us. And just recently, the last time I saw him, he told me how proud he was of me. I may not have believed it then, but I do now. And I will continue to make him proud.

I am so sorry for your loss. May God be with you all and comfort you as only He can.

Mary & family, I am so sorry for your loss. Tom will be greatly missed. He was an awesome brother and I will miss his advice and words of wisdom. God makes no mistakes and we have to accept his decisions. We cannot bring Tom back and I dont believe he would choose to come back to this world of sin. Now he is with our savior Jesus Christ and with family rejoicing. He fought a good fight and ran the race well. HE WON the race. Eternal salvation is his through CHRIST. We can look forwad to seeing him again at the eastern gate.Love you all and Tom I love you brother.

my best memories of tommy used to be when we were little boys around 8-10 hanging with him and his 2 brothers either in town at their house or out off bemiss road were I live , we always found some type of trouble to get into,But this past 6 month we remeet again and the friendship we share together was very special to me , cuz you will be miss . till we meet again love u

Uncle Tommy found me on Facebook about two years ago. I had not heard from this side of my family since I was about four. We spoke on the phone and sent emails and have been Facebook friends ever since. I wish I could have known him longer. I know he is in a better place with our Lord and he wouldn't have it any other way. My prayers are with the rest of the Forte family, some of whom I have yet to meet and to his wife Mary who I know he loved very much.

OBITUARY

Tommy Forte

August 20, 1956 – March 28, 2013

Fred Hunter's Funeral Home & Fred Hunter's Hollywood Memorial Gardens

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