Patrick R. Forte, 51, Sartell

February 16, 1966 - June 10, 2017

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, June 15, 2017 at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Sartell for Patrick R. Forte, age 51, who passed away after a courageous battle with cancer. Rev. Timothy Baltes will officiate and burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in Virginia, Minnesota at a later date. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Wednesday at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church and one hour prior to the services Thursday at the church. The Rosary will be prayed at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the church. Burial will be at a later date.

Patrick was born February 16, 1966 in Eveleth, Minnesota to Robert & Marjorie (Brauch) Forte. He was a graduate of Eveleth High School class of 1984. Pat attended and played hockey for the American International college in Springfield, Massachusetts and graduated from Bemidji State with a BA in Education and a MA from Hamline University. His elementary school teaching career spanned over 25 years including the Austin, Mora, Brainerd, and St. Cloud school districts. Pat’s focus of teaching was math and science. Pat started his high school coaching career in Chisholm, Minnesota and went on to coach in Austin, Mora, Brainerd, St., Cloud, and Sartell. He spent 5 years working with the Minnesota Select 17s, 2 years in the Upper Midwest Elite League, and then on to St. John’s University in Collegeville. In December 2016, Pat was presented with the “Spirit of Life Award” by the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. The award is for those facing adversity in their life but still determined to give back to the game of hockey. He used his adversity to inspire others through motivational speaking engagements. In addition to his love of hockey, Pat enjoyed life, especially fishing, hunting, and golf with his son and many, many friends.

Survivors include his son, Nicholas of Austin, MN; mother, Marjorie Forte, of Eveleth, MN; sisters, Barbara (Thomas) Lucarelli of Mounds View, MN, Diane (James) Juth of Rochester, MN, Catherine (Thomas) Harrington of Fridley, MN; nephews, Gino, Marco, Michael, Joseph, Jared; and nieces, Jenna and Jillian. He was preceded in death by his father, Robert Forte.

In Lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. Francis Xavier Church and the Youth Hockey Associations of Eveleth, Brainerd, St. Cloud, and Sartell.