John Henry Forster

John Henry Forster of Raleigh, NC passed away on Friday, May 1, 2020 at the age of 83.

John was born on December 15, 1936 in New York City to John and Elly (Bolick) Forster. As a boy growing up in the Bronx, he enjoyed playing stickball in the street, going crabbing in the East River, playing little league baseball and doing his paper route. His family moved to Cairo in upstate New York during his freshman year in high school. During high school he excelled in athletics, playing soccer, basketball and baseball. In his senior year, he was recognized as the best athlete in his school.

After high school, John earned a B.S. degree in electrical engineering at Manhattan College in New York City. He went on to earn a Master’s degree in industrial management at the Krannert School of Management at Purdue University. After completing his studies, John joined IBM as a systems engineer. He spent his career at IBM in various engineering roles in Poughkeepsie, NY, Baltimore, MD and Raleigh, NC.

In 1962 while attending an IBM training conference in New York City, John met another IBM employee, Peggy Lu Priester, in whom he took more than a professional interest. John and Peggy were married on June 20, 1964 in Peggy’s home town, Baltimore, MD. After relocating to Baltimore, they welcomed their first son, Scott, in 1967. The young family relocated with IBM to Raleigh, NC where they had their second son, Kirk, in 1970.

As his sons grew older, John was very involved in all aspects of their lives. He and his sons participated in Indian Guides for many years. He attended all of their spring and fall soccer games as well as their summer swim meets. He chaperoned field trips and attended school events. John and Peggy organized regular family camping trips as well as a six-week cross-country trip in 1979.

John was just as involved in the lives of his four grandsons. He and Peggy attended numerous school performances, soccer games, swim meets and competitions in which their grandsons participated. If his grandsons were involved in something, he was there to watch it. His grandsons looked forward to visits to the zoo, movies, dinners out, card games and trips to the bookstore. His sons were proud to have him as their father and his grandsons enjoyed having him as their grandfather.

Apart from his family, John’s other passion in life was soccer. After playing in high school, John continued to follow the sport throughout his life. He helped coach his sons’ teams, played in local adult leagues (well into his 50’s) and volunteered with the Capital Area Soccer League. He enjoyed watching professional soccer on TV and attending local college matches. He was also able to attend several international matches in Washington, D.C. and Atlanta.

John was an active participant in other sports as well. He played basketball for many seasons in IBM basketball leagues, helping his teams to win several championships. He was a strong hitter on his church softball team. He also enjoyed playing racquetball on a regular basis. He participated numerous times in the NC Senior Games and won the men’s racquetball title several times for his age group.

Mr. Forster is survived by his wife, Peggy (Priester) Forster of Raleigh, NC; children, Scott Forster and his wife Melissa of Greenville, SC, Kirk Forster and his wife Marjorie of Garner, NC; brother, Rich Forster of San Jose, CA; grandchildren, Duncan and Dalton Forster of Garner, NC and Aidan and Aaron Forster of Greenville, SC and a beloved extended family.

John was preceded in death by his father John Forster and his mother Elly (Bolick) Forster.

A memorial service will be held when social distancing guidelines allow. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Giles Presbyterian Church in Raleigh, NC in honor of John Forster.