Our Inspiration, Brian

Brian David Forgione was born on March 1, 1978. He was raised in Dunmore, Pennsylvania and participated in numerous activities and youth sports leagues while growing up. As a student at Dunmore High School, he joined many clubs, organizations and activities. He also was a member of the National Honor Society.

Throughout his life, Brian proved to be a gifted athlete as well, excelling in any sport in which he participated, particularly football and baseball. He was co-captain of the 1996 Dunmore H.S. District II championship football team. In Brian’s senior season he rushed for 1,504 yards. However, baseball was his favorite sport, as he was selected three times to the Lackawanna League All-Scholastic baseball team and was co-captain of the 1996 team, which won the Lackawanna Class AA and District II Class AA championships.

After graduating from Dunmore H.S. in 1996, Brian matriculated to Susquehanna University, where he remained active and involved in academics, athletics and volunteerism. Brian was a member of the Crusader baseball team, earning three letters and played football as a running back for one season. Additionally, Brian was also active in intramural sports, participating on the volleyball team for three years and the basketball and football teams for two years. Brian’s participation did not stop there, as he was a member of the Theta Chi Fraternity serving as its rush chairman for one year.

In addition, Brian also joined the rest of the Brothers in their philanthropic activities throughout the community. Brian received a Bachelor of Science degree in Education and was a member of the Pennsylvania State Education Association and the National Education Association. Most importantly, Brian continued to show his commitment to service by volunteering for the America Reads Challenge, a four-year grassroots national campaign challenging every American to help all our children learn to read during his sophomore, junior and senior years.

When Brian graduated from Susquehanna University in 2000, he moved back home to Dunmore with the pursuit of securing a full-time, elementary education teaching position in Pennsylvania. Within a year of Brian’s return to Dunmore, he was diagnosed with a rare form of testicular cancer in the winter of 2001.

After a courageous and heroic battle with cancer, Brian passed away on April 8, 2002. Brian is survived by his father, James Sr., a retired principal at Dunmore H.S.; his mother, Jane Ann, a retired elementary school teacher and two brothers James Jr., a Certified Public Accountant in Philadelphia and Todd, an Investment Banker in New York City. Brian’s most cherished possessions in life were his relationships with family and friends.

Along with his family, Brian made a number of close friends over his lifetime, who have now become a great support network for the Forgione family. These individuals have been instrumental in celebrating his life and keeping his memory alive. Whether it was on or off the playing fields, Brian was a competitor and extremely goal oriented.

During his 24 years of life, he taught lessons about love and courage to all he met and was an inspiration to all. He loved being with people and had the ability to make everyone feel at ease and special. Established in April of 2002, the Brian Forgione Foundation is dedicated to providing opportunities in education and athletics to those who are affected by cancer.