Fundraiser in honor of Canton father Sunday at Halfway Cafe

In memory of the late Jonathan Forman — a Canton single father whose courage in the face of cancer touched countless lives around him — two local women have organized a “dining out” fundraiser this coming Sunday, March 18, at the Halfway Café in Canton.

Jonathan Forman with his Aunt Sandy and daughters Aimee and Sabrina at Aimee's Bat Mitzvah (Photo by Jan Birch)

From open to close on Sunday only, any Halfway Café diner who presents the fundraiser certificate (available here) will have up to 20 percent of their purchase donated to the Jonathan Forman Fund, which provides financial support to Forman’s two daughters, 14-year-old Aimee and 10-year-old Sabrina.

The event, dubbed “Canton Comes Together to Support the Jonathan Forman Fund,” was conceived by Canton residents Denny Swenson and Arlene Grasso as a tribute to Forman, a beloved family man, friend and coworker who passed away last February at age 42 following a three-year battle with Ewing’s sarcoma.

“Jonathan Forman was a true inspiration to the Canton community,” said Swenson, whose daughter is Sabrina’s age and who came to know Forman through “play dates, birthday parties and school functions.”

In a tribute to Forman that appeared in the Patriot Ledger shortly after his passing, Swenson marveled at the young father’s determination and how he had “fought cancer with everything he had” — with his Aunt Sandy [Goldstein] and his two daughters by his side “rooting for him every step of the way.”

Goldstein had been like a surrogate mother to Forman after his own mother — Goldstein’s only sister — passed away at age 43 from cancer. Now she is raising his two daughters, having since moved to Canton and assumed legal guardianship of the girls.

“Sandy has risen to the occasion and moved the girls into a beautiful new apartment with her in Canton,” noted Swenson, who is hoping for a big turnout at the upcoming fundraiser. “As she tries to save for the girls’ education, we would like to honor Jonathan’s memory the first week of spring this year.”

Reached by telephone last week, Goldstein said she had “nothing to do” with Sunday’s event and continues to be amazed at all the support she has received from the Canton community.

“Denny and [Arlene] just thought of doing this for the girls,” she said. “What can I say? It is very, very nice.”

To make a contribution to the Jonathan Forman Fund, simply dine in at the Halfway Café in Canton, located at 95 Washington Street, and present the fundraiser certificate at the time of payment. Donations may also be given directly to the Jonathan Forman Fund, Bank of Canton, 557 Washington Street, Canton, MA 02021, attention Geri Ryan.

For more information, contact Denny Swenson at info@lightonpro.com. For information about the Halfway Café, including menus, go to www.thehalfwaycafe.com, or call 781‐821‐0944.

Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=12283

Posted by Jay Turner on Mar 15 2012. Filed under Uncategorized. Both comments and pings are currently closed.