In Memoriam: Former Longtime Fair Havenite Jack Forster, 91

“When you die, that does not mean you lose to cancer. You beat cancer by how you live, why you live and the manner in which you live.” ~ Stuart Scott, ESPY Awards 2014.

“Jack was victorious — a true champion.” ~ Jack Forster’s family

Former longtime Fair Havenite, Jack Forster, more recently of of Ocean Township, “gained his wings” on Feb. 2, 2023 after “a courageous battle with cancer.” He was 91.

Jack lived in Bloomfield the first 21 years of his life. He spent summers in Lavallette, where he raced sailboats at the Lavallette Yacht Club and lifeguarded during his college years. “This began a lifelong love of the beach, water, and boating,” family said in his obituary. It was in Lavallette that Jack met and married the woman who became his wife of 70 years, Carol Anne Roworth.

After becoming established and living in several locations, they settled in Fair Haven, NJ, where they stayed for 44 years and raised their three sons. Ultimately, they moved to Cedar Village in Ocean Township, where they had been living since 2011.

Jack Forster
Photo/family via Thompson Memorial Home

“Jack’s love of the water and boating became a major family pastime. They boated from the Navesink River, Barnegat Bay, Chesapeake Bay and Florida. They also chartered sailboats in the British Virgin Islands, Florida, Chesapeake Bay, Newport, and Marthas Vineyard/Nantucket. From 1970-1972, they owned and operated a houseboat charter business called Port O’Call Cruises, operating out of both Chesapeake Bay, MD, and Barnegat Bay, NJ.”
Loved ones of Jack Forster in his obituary

Organizations in the Rumson-Fair Haven area to which Jack belonged included: Tower Hill First Presbyterian Church, Rumson Presbyterian Church, The Root Beer and Checker Club, Ship Ahoy and Surfrider beach clubs, Sea Bright, and Fair Haven River Rats.

Outside of the Rumson-Fair Haven area, Jack belonged to: Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), SCORE, LOVE, Society for Information Management (SIM), American Management Association’s (AMA) Information Technology Council, the Lighthouse Point Yacht Club, Toms River, International Order of the Blue Gavel, Circumnavigators Club, Lavallette Yacht Club, and Halifax Sailing Association, Daytona Beach, FL.

Professionally …

Jack graduated from Rutgers University with a major in Business Administration and a minor in economics. After graduation from Rutgers, Jack served in the Air Force and was stationed in Louisiana and Japan Air Defense Force in Nagoya, Japan.

After returning from Air Force service, Jack joined the Prudential Insurance Company in a management training program. This began a career in Information Technology that spanned over 40 years.

Final career stop was his founding of a boutique management consulting company, The INFOTECH Group, in May 1982. He was the managing partner of the firm until retirement in 1997. Upon retirement, Jack and Carol traveled and spent fall and winters in Fort Myers Beach, FL.

Jack is survived by: his loving wife, Carol Anne Forster; his children, Rob and his wife Patty, of Wake Forest, NC, Rick and his wife Pats,y, of Tinton Falls, and Scott, of Neptune City.

Known as Bapps to them, he also leaves behind: his cherished grandchildren, Courtney (Brandon), Jennifer (C.J.), Emily (Dustin), David (Briahn), Michael (Natalie); and great-grandchildren, Mackenzie, Emma and Grayson.

Jack was predeceased by his parents, Carle and Helen Forster, and his brother, Carle Forster Jr.

A celebration of life will be hosted by Pastor Theresa Swenson of Tower Hill First Presbyterian Church of Red Bank on Saturday, Feb. 11, at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite charity.

— Edited obituary prepared by family via Thompson Memorial Home