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- Niagara Gazette
NIAGARA FALLS — Former Fire Chief, Edwin L. "Ted" Forster, 87, of Niagara Falls, NY, died on Tuesday, February 1, 2011 at Mt. St. Mary's Hospital in Lewiston, NY. He was the son of the late Archibald and Ethel (Crawford) Forster.
Chief attended local schools and graduated from Niagara Falls High School. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1942 and served as a paratrooper in E.T.O. with the 517th Airborne Regimental Combat Team in France, Belgium and Germany. He achieved the rank of First Sergeant, Division Headquarters Company of the 13th Airborne Division. Under the Army Specialized Training Program, he majored in Engineering at the University of Alabama, City College of New York and Randolph-Macon College, Virginia.
Ted joined the Niagara Falls Fire Department March 24, 1947; while a member of the fire department he attended the University of Buffalo, Millard Fillmore College for two years. He was appointed Chief of the Niagara Falls Fire Dept. on January 2, 1964, having served as Chief for 16 years until his retirement on July 19, 1980.
He was married to his childhood sweetheart, Virginia C. Focazio, who passed away on October 5, 2010, after 63 years of marriage. He is survived by eight children, Peter (Linda) Forster of Ann Arbor, MI, Christine Forster of Niagara Falls, NY, Michele (Anthony) Marconi of Amherst, NY, Michael (Beth) Forster of Amherst, NY, Jeffrey (Heather) Forster of Wheeling, WV, Elaine (Mark) Schroeder of North Tonawanda, NY, Gail (Andrew) Major of Copley, OH and Nicholas (Brenda) Forster of Niagara Falls, NY; fourteen grandchildren, Amanda Forster, Michael Forster, Claire Forster, Gina Major, Erika Schroeder, Carly Major, Betsy Forster, Peter "Mac" Marconi, John Major, Tess Marconi, Nicholas Forster, Samantha Forster, Jeffrey Forster and John "Jack" Forster; and his sister, Hope (Everen) Strassburg of the Town of Niagara, NY. In addition to his parents and wife, he was predeceased by his brothers, William, Archibald, James, Laverne and Aubrey; and his dear aunt, Vera Crawford Dunn, "The Queen."
Ted loved hunting and fishing and was a gourmet cook- he was affectionately dubbed "Papa Forstini" by his family for his special Italian dishes. He was a fine woodworker, a lover of classical music and a master gardener; "The Chief" felt his true calling was botany.
He was a former member of the International Association of Fire Chief's, the Niagara Industrial Emergency Council, General Chairman of the Public Service Division of the United Givers Fund; Director, Firefighter's Toy Fund; Chamber of Commerce, NIACAP and Community Center Board Member; Loyal Order of the Moose #838, Bishop Duffy Men's Club, Frontier Volunteer Fire Company and the Niagara County Volunteer Fire Chief's Association.
Visitation will be held on Friday from 4-8 PM at the OTTO REDANZ FUNERAL HOME, 2215 MILITARY ROAD, NIAGARA FALLS, NY (297-9007). In lieu of flowers, memorial offerings may be made to the Niagara Falls FirefighterÕs Toy Fund or the United Way of Niagara.
Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting us at www.ottoredanz.com and www.niagara-gazette.com/obituaries.
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Abt 1924 - 2011 (~ 87 years)