ROBERT WILBUR FORSTER
1929-2020
Robert Wilbur Forster, born January 5, 1929 to
Hans Walter Forster and Sylvia Marie (Sachtjen) Forster in Philadelphia, PA, passed away on November
26, 2020 in Kingwood, TX at age of 91. Bob attended Germantown Friends School for 12 years, graduating on the High Honor Roll in 1946. He graduated from Harvard College with Honors in Geology in 1950 and completed a Master’s degree in Petroleum Geology at Stanford University just prior to being drafted into the U.S. Army in 1952. His 3 years 9 months and 23 days of service included a year in Korea during the war, exiting as a 2nd Lt. Upon leaving the service, he began a 34-year career with Shell Oil Company as an exploration geologist. His early career with Shell had him working in the mid-Continent Division in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Denver. While working in the Ozarks on a beautiful fall day lunching beside a stream, he couldn’t imagine being happier in any job. His work took him throughout the U.S., including 9 wondrous field seasons in Alaska, and then to Syria and Africa.
Bob loved all kinds of outdoor activity especially mountaineering. He was a member of the Harvard Mountaineers and following graduation, with Glen Exim, accomplished the 1st night ascent of the Grand Teton in 1946. He also enjoyed camping, skiing, canoeing whitewater but birding was his passion. He amassed a life list of over 700 birds in North America. Bob was an ardent conservationist and involved in efforts to preserve habitat and biodiversity starting in 1956 and continuing throughout his lifetime. He served on various Boards and as President of the Denver Audubon Society. After retiring, he and his family traveled extensively around the world birding and exploring - ever curious, ever learning, often encouraged by his daughter to go places he might not have ventured otherwise. Favorites of his were Switzerland, Iceland, Africa, Nepal, and Antarctica.
He is survived by the love of his life, his wife of 50 years, Rosalyn (Lynn) Sorelle Forster, whom he married on Feb. 28,1970. They raised two children, Robert Burke Forster, married to Chi Wang, and Cara Sorelle Forster, married to James W. Mitchell. Bob has 6 wonderful grandchildren: Sophie Wang Forster, Richard Forster Flores, Robert Wang Forster, Catherine (Katie) Sorelle Mitchell, Joanna
Hilda Mitchell, and Elenore Aine Mitchell, each of whom he adored.Most importantly, Bob was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He was a gentle man as well as a gentleman. He loved his family dearly, and instilled in them his integrity, commitment to conservation, love of the natural world, and adventure.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Houston Audubon Land Acquisition Fund, American Bird Conservancy or any conservation or nature organization of your choice made in Bob’s name would be appreciated.