Arthur C. Forst Jr. changed people’s lives. He helped people and was good at it, making it his life’s work and proudest accomplishment. Whether it was assisting college students into higher education - often the first in their family to attend - instructing interns in the State of Connecticut Internship Program, or marrying couples as Justice of the Peace - Arthur Forst made a difference.

An academic, a thinker, a political junky, and a loving father and grandfather - he was an intense believer in higher education, especially in Liberal Arts. He was a trivial pursuit king, a passionate talker of politics and had a lifelong love of newspapers and news talk shows. He loved 50’s rock music, was a graceful dancer, a competitive tennis player, and an enthusiastic absorber of every new experience. “This is impressive, and I don’t impress easily” or “this is the BEST, the GREATEST, or the MOST famous” were his enthusiastic tag lines along with any other glowing hyperbole that could be mustered at the key moment. Art was a person of warmth, of positive generosity and of boundless enthusiasm.

It is what people remember most about Art… a kind and gentle soul; an enthusiastic and positive spirit. He was an accomplished educator and administrator, a PhD with a keenly aware and gifted intelligence, without arrogance but with the humility of someone who grew up with few means and even fewer advantages. His warmth and beautiful personality always made you feel comfortable and welcomed. He had that often sought after but seldom achieved charm, and was a terrific and gifted conversationalist. Art could make anyone feel at ease and was just happy to get to know you better, no matter who you were.

Born in rural Coventry, CT in 1940, he attended its public schools prior to attending Windham High School. He graduated from the University of Connecticut in 1964 with a bachelor’s degree and then, while working a full time job, went on to achieve a PhD, with honors, also at UCONN in 1980. He worked at Eastern Connecticut State University from 1969 to 1994, his most loved position and where his heart called home for 25 years. As Director of Admissions at ECSU, he gave people a second, and even third chance to work hard and achieve the dream of a college education. He then went on to Mitchell College as Dean of Admissions, then on to Harcourt Press to create an ahead-of-its-time accredited online university when such a thing was still a concept in its infancy. Then in semi-retirement, he took on the challenge of running the Connecticut State Legislature internship program and ended up dedicating the next 10 years of his life there.

Rounding out a full public life, he was also a member of the Coventry Board of Education, an active member of the Willington Democratic Town Committee, and a Justice of the Peace. In this last role, he enjoyed it even more than he let on, bringing people together in marriage from all walks of life. He never charged for his service and was simply happy to help and be there for the special occasion. Art would always get to know the couple first, talking with them for hours before scheduling the ceremony. When they could not afford anywhere else, he would often offer up his own home and living room for the wedding.

His travels were legendary - England, France, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, Denmark, Germany, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, the Caribbean, even Egypt and Israel - being there only a month prior to the historic Arab Spring - and most of the United States. Wanting to be experience as much as he could in life, he and his beloved wife, Carolyn traveled the world all while bravely toting along two young sons on what have felt like innumerable international plane rides. Art and Carolyn traveled extensively again later in life during retirement when ANY opportunity presented itself.

The cancer that pursued him during the last years of life finally caught up to him on December 16, 2015. As he continues on, he leaves behind a loving and devoted wife, Carolyn Lee Forst, two sons: Bryan and Chuck Forst (Arthur Forst III), his wife Erin, a brother Tom Forst, his wife Giselda and nieces and nephew: Sara, Michael, and Amanda and 7 grandchildren that thought the world of him: Jessica, Samantha, Jonathan, Will, Nick, Sam and Kate. He also leaves behind a legacy of countless thousands of college students and interns that he helped guide in their lives and careers, and hundreds of people that had the good fortune of being his friend and co-worker. Arthur Forst was a loving, wonderful person that will be greatly missed by all that met him.

We will celebrate Art’s life, receiving friends and family for calling hours at the Coventry- Pietras Funeral Home at 2665 Boston Turnpike, Coventry, CT on Sunday, December 20, 2015 from 2pm to 5pm. Funeral Services will be held on Monday, December 21, 2015 at 11am at the New Storrs Cemetery, North Eagleville Road, Storrs, CT (please meet directly at the cemetery). In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Forst Family Scholarship Fund at Eastern Connecticut State University. The family would like to thank the visiting nurses of Hartford Health Services, and especially Denise Pillion, for their dedication and kindness. Their loving care was greatly appreciated. For online condolences please visit www.pietrasfuneralhome.com