The son of Italian immigrants, Felix Forte was born in the North End of Boston, Massachusetts. He received a law degree from Boston University in 1916 and became a long-time member of its faculty. In 1930, he was appointed to the Somerville District Court and in 1939 was named to the superior court bench. He presided at the Brinks robbery trial in 1956. Forte served the Order Sons of Italy in America as Assistant Grand Venerable (1923-1925), Grand Venerable of Massachusetts (1933-1937), Assistant Supreme Venerable (1939-1940), and Supreme Venerable (1940-1947). He was the first American-born national leader of the Order.
From the guide to the Felix Forte Papers, 1927-1975, (University of Minnesota Libraries. Immigration History Research Center [ihrc])
