Obituary

On March 14, 2026, Roger Daniel Forman passed away peacefully after a years’ long struggle with Alzheimer’s.

Roger was born on November 6, 1949 in New Rochelle, New York. After graduating from the University of Michigan, Roger attended Antioch Law School to learn how to help others and make good trouble. He succeeded at both. After law school, Roger moved to Des Moines, Iowa, to work for Legal Aid where he represented hundreds of low-income residents in a successful challenge to increases in their property taxes. Roger then moved to Sioux City, Iowa, to open and manage the first Legal Services office in that city. While working in Iowa, Roger met the love of his life, Arla Ralston.

Roger and Arla married in December of 1980 and moved together to Charleston, West Virginia, where he went to work for District 17 of the United Mine Workers of America, focusing on labor disputes and the representation of coal miners suffering from Black Lung. Up until his passing, Roger proudly wore his jacket, identifying him as a lifetime UMWA member.

In 1984, Roger entered into private practice where he continued to fight for workers’ rights for more than thirty years. He did pro bono legal work for the ACLU in cases involving the First Amendment, LGBT rights, and reproductive freedom. In 2004, Roger brought a case seeking recognition of gay marriage under the West Virginia Constitution. This was eleven years before the United States Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges. In 2012, Roger moved his life and his law practice to Pocahontas County, where he continued to represent coal miners and fight for workers’ rights.

Roger was a longtime member of Temple Israel, where he served on the Board of Directors. Roger served on the state and national boards of directors for the ACLU. He was President of the Board of Directors of the Legal Aid Society of Charleston, the WV-ACLU, and the Covenant House. In recognition of his service to the community, Roger received the Reginald Heber Smith Fellowship, the Sid Bell Award, the West Virginia Human Rights Commission Award, and was honored by Legal Aid of West Virginia for his many years of service.

Roger collected, read, and re-read all the books in the Wizard of Oz series. His favorite character was Button Bright, a boy who was always lost but always happy. He loved baseball and supported the New York Mets in whom he never stopped believing. He was a DJ for Allegheny Mountain Radio and played a variety of music that reflected his eclectic tastes, including Mozart, Bob Marley, Bob Dylan, and Johnny Cash. Roger loved the outdoors and could often be found hiking the Monongahela National Forest, Watoga State Park, the Kanawha State Forest, and Charleston’s Carriage Trail. He loved floating the Greenbrier River, digging ramps, and hunting for morels.

Roger was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Evelyn Forman. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife Arla Ralston, his children Cyrus and Isaac (Kate) Forman, his grandchildren Nora and Vera, his brother William (Christine Jones) Forman, his sister Nancy Forman, two nieces and one nephew.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Roger’s memory can be made to Allegheny Mountain Radio (WVMR), Legal Aid of WV, or to a charity of your choice. A celebration of Roger’s life will be held at a later date.

Barlow Bonsall Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.