Remembering Peter Forbes
A Fearless Advocate for Youth
Former Roca partner and longtime friend Peter J. Forbes passed away on April 26, 2025 at the age of 66. Peter had served as a member of the Roca Impact Institute Advisory Board, and received Roca’s 2021 James E. Mahoney Award for innovative leadership, humility, and commitment to systemic change on behalf of young people.
Peter dedicated 39 years of his life to serving young people at the Massachusetts Department of Youth Services. As Commissioner of DYS, Peter prioritized education and employment and training opportunities, and DYS-involved youth had significant academic success under his leadership. He focused on providing developmentally appropriate and transferable services, so youth could thrive as they returned to their home communities. He also deeply valued fairness, understanding that youth (and families) would be more likely to internalize positive change if they felt their interactions with the juvenile justice system were fair.
He was so attentive to young people, always willing to learn, and humble. We miss him. Thank you to his family for sharing him!
Read more about Peter’s life and work: