Jean-Pierre Fohrmann was born in Dudelange, where he worked at ARBED's steel plant in Dudelange, Luxembourg.

Following a major workers' strike in Dudelange in March 1921, during which Jean-Pierre Fohrmann was actively involved, he was transferred to Sabará to work at ARBED's Brazilian subsidiary in 1922. There, Fohrmann worked as a "chef-modelador" and opened his carpenter's shop. He produced furniture for several employees of the company. Fohrmann was also a founding member of Belgo Mineira's football team, the Esporte Clube Siderúrgica, founded in 1930.