In Memory of
Matthew G. Forte
September 2, 2022
Obituary
Matthew G. Forte,
78, passed away September 2, 2022 at Baystate Medical
Center. Matt was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, the
son of the late Matthew and Rose (Mazzeo) Forte. He
resided in the Forest Park Heights neighborhood of
Springfield, MA since 2012 and, before that, was a
longtime resident of both Upper Montclair and South
Orange, NJ.
Matt earned his MBA in Industrial Psychology from Baruch
College and was retired from a decorated career as the
Training Director of the Port Authority of New York and
New Jersey Police. He also held several expert positions
with the Association of Chiefs of Police of Essex
County, New Jersey, including Chairman of the CALEA
Accreditation Committee and Vice Chairman of the Bylaws
Committee, among others. In addition, Matt served as a
consultant to the Springfield and Essex County municipal
police departments as well as Adjunct Assistant
Professor of Management for the Hagan Graduate School of
Management at Iona College. He further lent his
expertise as a Board Member of the National Law
Enforcement Museum in Washington, DC; New Britain,
Connecticut Police Museum; and Essex County College
Police Academy. Matt also held esteemed roles, some of
which earned him medals and other accommodations, with
the Police Command College at the U.S. Military Academy,
F.B.I. National Academy, and other law enforcement
entities.
As the primary authority worldwide on American police
equipment, Matt was an accomplished author of numerous
books, law enforcement journals, and antique and
collectible publications, including serving as a staff
writer for Police Collector News. He was also a former
member of the International Association of Chiefs of
Police and the American Society for Industrial Security.
Matt enjoyed reading historical non-fiction and watching
detective series. An accomplished artisan and craftsman,
he enjoyed restoring old houses and building beautiful
furniture. He also took pleasure in vegetable and herb
gardening, cooking, and listening to jazz music.
Matt is survived by his life partner Beate Bolen of
Springfield, MA; his daughter Janet Forte of Brooklyn,
NY; his sister Geraldine Hunter and nephew Nicolas
Hunter of FL; his former spouses Inna Shames of AZ and
Carole Forte of NJ; along with other family members,
many friends, and colleagues.
A gathering to celebrate Matt’s life will be held at the
home of Beate Bolen.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made
to “Friends of Springfield Parks” with a memo directing
the gift to the Forest Park Horticulture Study Center,
Attn: Patrick Sullivan, 200 Trafton Road, Springfield,
MA 01108.
For further details or to offer online condolences,
please visit
www.nowakfuneral.com
