Forrest J. Clingerman

BLUFFTON, OH- Forrest John Clingerman, 52, passed away April 21, 2024, at his home in Ohio.

Forrest was born January 29, 1972 in Terre Haute, IN, to parents John and Claire (Spaulding) Clingerman. He grew up in the midwest but came to the east coast as a young person with his family. Forrest graduated from Deerfield Academy, in Deerfield, MA in 1989. He then received his bachelors from Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois in 1994. It was at Augustana, where he met his wife of 29 years Gail (Pearson) Clingerman. They were married on August 20, 1994 and moved back to the East Coast where he received his Masters of Divinity from Boston University before earning his Ph.D from the University of Iowa. They welcomed their first child, Sabina, before moving to Ohio to begin his postdoctoral professional career at Ohio Northern University (ONU).  At ONU he was a dedicated Professor of Philosophy and Religion, and was recognized both nationally and internationally for his contributions and leadership in the field. He enjoyed his students tremendously and was also the Director of the Honors Program at ONU since 2019. While his career developed his family grew and his son Asa was born. In his free time, Forrest enjoyed hiking, backpacking, bird watching, and geocaching. He loved being outdoors and was a Cub Scout leader for 5 years. Above all, he loved spending time with his family.

He is survived by wife, Gail (Pearson) Clingerman of Bluffton; two children, Sabina and Asa Clingerman of Bluffton; his mother, Claire (Spaulding) Clingerman of Orange, MA; father, John Clingerman of Myrtle Beach, SC; two sisters, Mercedes (husband George) Clingerman of Orange, MA, and Heatherle Clingerman of Woonsocket, RI; along with his father-in-law, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, and two nieces in MN.

He will be missed dearly by his family, colleagues and students.

A memorial service was held Saturday, April 27, 2024 in his home town of Bluffton, Ohio.

He is being brought to MA for burial where there will be a graveside interment service May 2, 2024 at 1pm at North New Salem Cemetery, Fay Rd, New Salem, MA.

Witty’s Funeral Home, 158 South Main Street, Orange, is assisting the family.

Guest book online at WWW.WITTYFUNERALHOME.COM

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