Dr. John C. Forbeck

Dr. John C. Forbeck passed away peacefully on July 9, 2026 at his home in Lady Lake, Florida. His wife Ruth L. Forbeck pre deceased him in May of 2026. John was born in Terre Haute, Indiana on May 31, 1935 to Clarence and Eleanor Forbeck. John grew up in Enon, Ohio with his parents and sister Peggy (Forbeck) Dean. Upon graduation from Enon High School he entered the Army Security Agency and was assigned to his unit in Memmingen, Germany. John then attended Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio and graduated with his Bachelors in education. It was at Wittenberg where he met his wife Ruth Ladzinske of East Liverpool, Ohio. They were married on June 11, 1960 and they both began their careers as teachers in the Springfield area. John went on to teach at Fairmount West in Kettering, Ohio. In 1969 they moved to Knoxville, Tennessee to pursue his Doctoral degree in Education. John was awarded the Ford Foundation Scholarship to attend this program. After graduating in 1971, Dr. Forbeck and his family moved to Chatham, New Jersey where he accepted the job of High School principal of Chatham Borough. In 1975 the family moved once again to Shaker Heights, Ohio to accept the job of Principal at Woodbury Junior High. In 1979 John accepted his next position of School Superintendent in Sidney, Ohio. In 1984 they moved to Adams County in Ohio to work as the County Superintendent of Adams County Schools in West Union, Ohio. After Johns' retirement from the Ohio school system, he accepted the position of Superintendent of the Kenton County School system in Kentucky. John and Ruths' next adventure took them to Salvador, Brazil where he became the Headmaster of the Pan American School of Bahia and they lived there until 1995 when they retired to Lady Lake, Florida. He was always there for our family in so many ways, a wonderful father and loving husband and grandfather to Cassi and Noah. He was always having mom on the move as they moved 26 times since they were married, but their last home was here in Lady Lake and they maintained this home for 31 years. John had a true dedication of involving students and faculty in all facets of life and he had a deep personal interest in their happiness and success. John and Ruth together will be laid to rest in the great Smoky Mountains near Gatlinburg, Tennessee. He is survived by his son Bob, his daughter-in-law Maria of Orlando Florida and his two grandchildren Cassi and Noah Forbeck.

Dr. John C. Forbeck

May 31, 1935 - July 9, 2026