If you take a peek under the fair linen draped over the front of St. John’s altar, you will find a small engraved plaque that reads: In Memory of Deber Forman, Died Oct. 10th ’91.  Who was Deber Forman and why would our altar be dedicated in his honor? 

Deber was the son of William and Rose Forman, residents of Breckenridge whose home still stands today just north of Lincoln Street on the east side of High.  William Forman was for many years the Summit County clerk and recorder.  The family had three children, in addition to a stepson from earlier in father William’s life.

Sadly, Deber died at the tender age of 7 years in 1891, just as St. John’s was being moved to its new location at the corner of French and Lincoln streets and under renovation. 

His family was attributed with giving the altar to the church.  Although no death records are available for this time period in Breckenridge, our parish register lists Deber’s death and its cause:  croup.  C. W. Hodder, St. John’s first resident minister, officiated at Deber’s funeral.  Deber is buried, along with other family members, at Valley Brook Cemetery in Breckenridge.

The parish register does not list the Forman family as members of St. John’s, nor were they listed on our Memorial Scroll now hanging in the church vestibule.  Understandably, the family was distraught over their loss as an obituary in the Summit County Journal (dated 17 October 1891) attests: “Deber was lovely in person, kind in spirit and the pet of the household and now that he is gone it seems indeed that the light of the home has gone also.”

Kris Ann Knish, archivist with Breckenridge History, shared the accompanying photo of Deber and his family outside their High Street home.  She also captured a photo of the portrait of Deber which hangs in the Briggle home next door on High.  The portrait of Deber was created the year before he died.