Chad Forte

Chad Forte, 43, of Auburn, CA passed away unexpectedly on December 23, 2019. The final cause of death is still unknown, but was likely due to a blood clot stemming from a recent knee surgery. Chad was born in South Lake Tahoe, CA, where he became an accomplished athlete and avid outdoorsman. His life growing up in Tahoe was filled with many adventures in the national forest backing up to the home where he was raised. During the summer, countless days were spent at Cold Creek fishing and exploring the seemingly endless Tahoe backcountry on his bike. Winters were spent on the slopes of Heavenly Valley where his intense love for skiing developed. It was apparent from a young age that Chad was a dominant athlete and this became most apparent once he reached high school. Many in northern Nevada will remember his dominance in both basketball and football. After graduating from high school, Chad attended college at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ, earning a bachelor's degree in health sciences. During his time in Flagstaff he transitioned away from main stream sports and began again to explore the backcountry of AZ, UT, and CA. Skiing, hiking, and backpacking became the focus of his life for the remainder of his years. At 27, the death of Chad's mother, Daphne Haldeman Forte, rocked his soul. A terrible bout with addiction ensued over the next 14 years. Chad's experiences during this time ended up shaping the man he would eventually become. After many trails and tribulations, he entered the Salvation Army's Adult Recovery Center in Sacramento, CA. It was there that Chad found sobriety and regained the passion for his life. After graduating from the Salvation Army, Chad moved to Auburn, CA, where he would reunite with family and create many life long friendships. Chad was working towards a goal of becoming a social worker so he could help better the lives of those struggling with addiction. He felt that his experiences could help him to guide so many. Chad touched on the lives of many people throughout his journey on this earth. He will be greatly missed by all that knew him and his welcoming smile will never be forgotten. Chad leaves behind his father Doug, his brother Josh and many Haldermans including, Jan and Kellie, Dayna and Nick, Drew and Chelsea, Jason and Dana, along with many friends and family spread over the western United States. A Celebration of Life Ceremony will be held at Gold Country Church, 11641 Blocker Drive, in Auburn, CA, on February 8th, 2020 at 3:00 PM.