Michael Dominic Forbes
AKA "Big Mike" • "Chef Mike" • "Santa Claus" to many!
June 12, 1954 - March 2, 2015
June 12, 1954 - March 2, 2015
On March 2, 2015 - friend to many - Michael “Big Mike” Forbes passed away peacefully in his sleep in Hillsborough, North Carolina due to complications he had had over the years - from diabetes, to heart and kidney issues. He was 60 years old.
I’ve started this Tribute page & a separate Photo page for him so if you have any stories•more information•comments or photos to share, please email them to me.
LOTS more information is coming here shortly.
"Big Mike" Forbes was born June 12, 1954 in Detroit, Michigan, the son of Elizabeth Grace Forbes and the late Albert David Forbes.
One of Big Mike's biggest loves was the hat he wore as a CHEF - spreading joy through the many delicious dishes he prepared for his friends and clients! He loved throwing parties.
He worked in the food service industry most of his adult life.
Not only was Big Mike the "host with the most" - his Big Mike's Guest House • B&B • Catering and Supper Club in Escazu, Costa Rica was a special place to stay and it was a hub for many events, charity fundraisers, meetings (like the monthly Speaker's Forum) and parties! His friends and guests spanning the globe and MANY long-lasting friendships and memories were formed there!
Big
Mike loved performing as Santa Claus and bringing a smile to everyone’s
face (especially his granddaughter Eva pictured above).
Alison shared that he enjoyed painting clowns and Santa Clauses, as well as collecting clown and Santa figurines. Santa has a special place in my dad's heart. For over 30 years, he enjoyed playing Santa Claus. He was great with kids and had the best, "HO, HO, HO" around. He joined a group of other Santa's and enjoyed fellowship with them. Friends in his apartment complex would donate gifts and help him wrap them to give away to children at different events. Mike visited UNC events as Santa as well as other organizations.
Michael Forbes was such a GENTLE SOUL and no place was that as clear as how he was with his animals•"fur family" and no matter how you felt about it - he held a special place in his heart for animals. Over the years he had everything from dogs to his "babies" - monkeys Lucy • Suzy and Mike even had a pet miniature pot-bellied pig - His little girl - Hoover J Underfoot.
His blood ran green and white, as a die-hard Michigan State fan and former alumni (he even started a Michigan State University Alumni International chapter in Costa Rica).
He worked in the food service industry most of his adult life.
Not only was Big Mike the "host with the most" - his Big Mike's Guest House • B&B • Catering and Supper Club in Escazu, Costa Rica was a special place to stay and it was a hub for many events, charity fundraisers, meetings (like the monthly Speaker's Forum) and parties! His friends and guests spanning the globe and MANY long-lasting friendships and memories were formed there!
Alison shared that he enjoyed painting clowns and Santa Clauses, as well as collecting clown and Santa figurines. Santa has a special place in my dad's heart. For over 30 years, he enjoyed playing Santa Claus. He was great with kids and had the best, "HO, HO, HO" around. He joined a group of other Santa's and enjoyed fellowship with them. Friends in his apartment complex would donate gifts and help him wrap them to give away to children at different events. Mike visited UNC events as Santa as well as other organizations.
His blood ran green and white, as a die-hard Michigan State fan and former alumni (he even started a Michigan State University Alumni International chapter in Costa Rica).
He was a fourth degree member of the Knights of the Columbus and and found a Knight family at St. Bernadette's Catholic Church in Fuquay-Varina.
Mike loved to travel (especially the trip he took with Alison to Denmark, England, Ireland, Holland, Germany, Belgium, France, and Scotland) - but his favorite place to return to time after time and eventually moving to) was Costa Rica.
But as fate would have it circumstances took him back to North Carolina where he was able to re-establish a relationship and got to spend his last few years close to his daughter Alison Forbes Dyess that he so loved and his baby granddaughter "Eva" who brought him such joy!!!!!
But as fate would have it circumstances took him back to North Carolina where he was able to re-establish a relationship and got to spend his last few years close to his daughter Alison Forbes Dyess that he so loved and his baby granddaughter "Eva" who brought him such joy!!!!!
Having his own granddaughter Eva in 2013 was what kept him going through all the continuing health issues. He loved Eva so much. He was there the night she was born with chocolate bars for everyone (boy and girl- since her gender was a surprise). Although she was afraid of his big beard at first, Eva quickly grew to love "talking" to him on the phone and visiting with him either at his apartment or my home. He was so proud of her. She was certainly the apple of his eye.
Thanks to a good friend, Big Mike was able to return to his home state of Michigan a month before he passed away where he got to reconnect with his mom, old friends and family!
VOLUNTEERING:
Mike was very generous and would give you the shirt off his back. Much of his time was spent volunteering for everything from Santa Claus (both professionally and for many less fortunate kids), UNC Health Care, while in Costa Rica - 2 causes that were close to him was Gail Nystrom's CRHF - Costa Rican Humanitarian Foundation • Fundacion Humanitaria -
facebook.com/CRHumanitarianFoundation • CRHF.org and the former group - Helping Hands.
LIVED:
Mike grew up in the Detroit, Michigan area and at various times he also lived in Las Vegas, Hawaii and Atlanta plus:
1997-2000 - Half Moon Bay•San Francisco Bay Area where he had a business - “Perfect Image” - importing orchids from Thailand.
2001-2009 - Escazu, Costa Rica - Big Mike's B&B•Guest House & Supper Club
2009-2015 - Durham and Hillsborough, North Carolina at the time of his passing.
"Big Mike" is survived by his daughter, Alison Dyess and her husband,
Charlie; and his granddaughter, Evangeline “Eva” Dyess; 2 sisters, and
many nieces and nephews.
Big Mike Forbes tried to live by Don Miguel Ruiz's "5 Agreements" as best as he could. He was human though, so he wasn't always successful in following them.
Basically, Big Mike Forbes lived his life trying to make everyone smile and have a good time! He had a big heart and was always willing to help!
A funeral mass was held May 6, 2015 at Holy Family Catholic Church is Hillsborough, North Carolina. His family will be putting his ashes to rest in his birth state of Michigan on June 27. (details to follow).
Big Mike Forbes tried to live by Don Miguel Ruiz's "5 Agreements" as best as he could. He was human though, so he wasn't always successful in following them.
Basically, Big Mike Forbes lived his life trying to make everyone smile and have a good time! He had a big heart and was always willing to help!
A funeral mass was held May 6, 2015 at Holy Family Catholic Church is Hillsborough, North Carolina. His family will be putting his ashes to rest in his birth state of Michigan on June 27. (details to follow).
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PICTURES:
LOTS of pictures can be found at:
SarongGoddess.com/Other/BigMikeForbes
PICTURES:
LOTS of pictures can be found at:
SarongGoddess.com/Other/BigMikeForbes
Do you have any pictures of Big Mike - or from any of his parties or being chef - or his guest house?
Forward them to
LivingLifeInCostaRica@gmail.com
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COMMENTS•SHARING•STORIES ABOUT "BIG MIKE":
(please forward your comments to add here to
(please forward your comments to add here to
• You can also read and add comments on his Facebook page -
• or the Legacy Page for Big Mike:
His daughter Alison Forbes-Dyess wrote on her Facebook page that her daughter "was his/Mike's pride and joy! He spent his last day painting a stool for her birthday. He loved singing to her and bellowing, "HO HO HO!"
ALSO - from the Eulogy:
My Dad grew up in Detroit, Michigan. After finding a passion for hospitality and food, he earned an associates degree from a local community college. He worked in the food service industry most of his adult life.
After community college, he went on to Michigan State University, but regretted never earning his bachelor's degree. He was a fierce fan of Michigan State University athletics, especially football and basketball. My dad enjoyed watching most sports (college and professional), especially attending live games when possible.
When I was growing up, my fondest memories are of the two of us feeding the ducks at the Michigan State University campus, going to the movie theater, and playing scrabble. I enjoyed watching him play softball on the church softball team and he always stayed active with my parent teacher organization in elementary school. Saturday mornings, you could find him visiting garage sales. He always found the best bargains. When he began studying massage therapy, mom and I never minded helping him practice.
While I was in college, he meet up with me after my study abroad. We traveled to Denmark, England, Ireland, Holland, Germany, Belgium, France, and Scotland. My Dad took pride in the Forbes name and our Scottish history. Family and his family's history was important to him.
He loved taking pictures, cooking, baking, entertaining, deep sea fishing and traveling. He was fortunate to travel many places and even lived in Nevada, Georgia, California, Hawaii, and Costa Rica during different times in his life. The place he loved most was definitely Costa Rica. For several years, he owned his own catering company, guest house/bed and breakfast, and really wanted to establish a culinary school. In Costa Rica, he made friends with people from all around the world. As a huge animal lover, he had pet dogs, birds, monkeys, and even a miniature pot-bellied pig at one point.
In 2009 due to circumstances, he had to leave his paradise of Costa Rica and return to the United States. We hadn't lived close to each other since I was around 14 (1994). I think God lead him back to me, so we could spend the last few years of his life near me. In 2010, he moved to North Carolina and lived with my new husband and I. Unfortunately, health issues finally caught up to him. There were many months that he was recovering from or dealing with one thing after another, but he always pulled himself back up.
He returned to the Knights of Columbus and found a Knight family at St. Bernadette's Catholic Church in Fuquay-Varina. He found joy with his dog Cocoa for a short time. He continued to collect cookbooks and books about food, as he did before when living in the States. My dad enjoyed reading Stuart Woods and Lee Child books. He put his green thumb to work through having a small garden at his home in Eno Haven Apartments. He found many good friends at Eno Haven in the two and a half years that he lived there, especially Debbie Harper and her "granddaughter" Summer.
Having his own granddaughter in 2013 was what kept him going through all the continuing health issues. He loved Eva so much. He was there the night she was born with chocolate bars for everyone (boy and girl- since her gender was a surprise). Although she was afraid of his big beard at first, Eva quickly grew to love "talking" to him on the phone and visiting with him either at his apartment or my home. He was so proud of her. She was certainly the apple of his eye.
Much of his time was spent at UNC hospital for doctor's appointments, but also for volunteering. He was very generous and would give you the shirt off his back. My dad was also a loyal friend. He tried to live by Don Miguel Ruiz's five agreements, as best as he could. He was human though, so he wasn't always successful in following them.
My dad enjoyed painting clowns and Santa Clauses, as well as collecting clown and Santa figurines. Santa has a special place in my dad's heart. For over 30 years, he enjoyed playing Santa Claus. He was great with kids and had the best, "HO, HO, HO" around. He joined a group of other Santa's and enjoyed fellowship with them. Friends in his apartment complex would donate gifts and help him wrap them to give away to children at different events. My Dad visited UNC events as Santa as well as other organizations. My neighborhood enjoyed his visits every year as Santa at our community Holiday event.
Basically, my dad lived his life trying to make everyone smile and have a good time! He had a big heart and was always willing to help!
Thank you for letting me share this. I miss him very much, but I know this was God's plan for him and for my family.
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Of some of my strongest memories of Big Mike was #1 - he introduced me to Banana Pancakes at a fundraiser he did for Helping Hands & to this day EVERY time I make them I remember Mike with a BIG SMILE!!
An "Only in Vicki's World would this be great" memory is I had been playing with his monkey Lucy one day & I walked by her cage & she GRABBED my dress and ripped it. The funny part was is I'd been wanting to shorten it for years - and where she ripped it - was the PERFECT length!! So thank you Lucy!! (adding more later) - Vicki Skinner - Costa Rica
It is with a very heavy heart that I share the news of "Big Mike" (aka Michael Forbes) from Costa Rica passing on to the next big adventure. He was an instrumental part of our time and experience in Costa Rica. He gave our son Wilder his first cooking lessons! "Remember, use water not milk in your eggs Wilder". You were such a kind man and will be missed by so many. ¡Paz Hermano! Chris Bross
It is with a heavy heart that I learned of the passing of Michael Forbes a.k.a Big Mike. I lived at his B&B while waiting for the arrival of our Vonnie and spent the first week of his life there. He was always so kind and gracious. Loved to cook breakfast for the boys and always had great stories! Your Costa Rica family will miss you!! Amy Moran Zbel
It was wonderful to see you one last time RIP Big Mike. — with Michael Forbes. 'It was wonderful to see you one last time RIP Big Mike.' Cari Anderson
I remember meeting him at the wedding and his positive, full of life energy was so welcoming and unforgettable. Becca Ann Henry
I'll miss him for sure! 30 years of friendship with this jolly guy! Toni Ringlein
I miss you more than I could've ever imagined! If only I could have one more day. I had so many plans in the future...fly out to see you.....you fly to visit me.....a sea-glass wind-chime I was going to make out of the glass I found while talking to you on the phone....you brought me such good luck with all the glass I found that day......many, many more scrabble games....go Seahawks talks........Santa Christmases....happy birthdays.........I love and miss you too much Mikeeeeeeey oooxxxxxxxxx ~ Lauri Campbell, Port Orchard, Washington
You left us way too soon. Maria Miley Mikey
We will miss you Mike. You brought such joy to the patients at UNC Health Care when you volunteered. We will miss your Santa laugh and happy spirit each year when we visit the patients. Linda Bowles
He use to throw some great BBQ Parties at Brandywine Creek apartments. Chicken hamburgers and corn. It would be a good momento. Cari Anderson
OMG just now read about Mike I'm so sad we stayed with him in Costa Rica he always had something nice to say about our business in Calif when ever I posted something on FB RIP Big Mike. Cary Burns
You will b missed at the Knights of Columbus meetings in Fuquay Varina. So glad I got to know you Brother Knight ~ Joe Sheehan, Fuquay Varina, North Carolina
We only knew Mike for a short time, since we moved to Eno Haven Apartments. He was a nice guy. Always helping other people. Never complained. We had no idea he was ill himself. He will be missed. Larry and Molly Boone ~ Larry & Molly Boone, Hillsborough, North Carolina
Hi Alison and family, I
didn't know your Dad well but I do remember he was one of the first
people to make me feel welcome in my new home of Costa Rica. I remember
the talks he hosted and how friendly and gracious he was to everyone. I
really missed him when he had to leave. And
so, I am sending my prayers, love and condolences. I think "Big Mike,"
your father, was a wonderful person who contributed to everyone he
encountered. Marlene-Costa Rica
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SEND CONDOLENCES,
stories & photos to his daughter Alison at:
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