Arthur Harvey Forst was born January 9, 1928 in Newark N.J. He was the last surviving child of Anna and Herman Forst. He was pre-deceased by two brothers and two sisters: Herman, George, Charlotte Kendall and Anna Anderson, and by his youngest daughter, Elaine Forst (1983).

Art was a devoted husband to Irma, his wife of 63 years and a loving father to his 5 surviving children; Jeanmarie Kline, Suzannne Bocage, Robert Forst, Janet Jones and Marion Hess. He also leaves 15 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

Art left high school the day he turned 17 and joined the Navy, where his brothers and sister were already serving during WWII. He was discharged the day before he turned 21. He finished high school at night while working, then attended Rutgers University as a Chemistry major but left school to pursue a career in the construction industry. Not having completed college, he was a self-motivated learner who read the encyclopedia to gain knowledge and educate himself.

Art was a self-employed Builder / Developer. He started his business in 1962 and took great pride in building custom homes for families. He was active in the N.J. Builders Association as a Chapter Director and also served as President. He retired in 1991 and his son continued in the building business. His kids all remember his help with completing great school projects that were, of course, constructed with wood.

Despite his later success, Art never forgot his beginnings growing up in a poor family in Newark, N.J., and always encouraged others to rise above their circumstances and create opportunities for themselves. He was a living example of how to do this and was an inspiration for many. He visited prisons to talk to inmates and help them believe that they could achieve something more. As a proud veteran, he was also very active in the VFW and had an interest in supporting fellow veterans. He loved his country and was passionate about the US Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, so much that he purchased booklet versions of the Constitution by the hundreds and handed them out to family, friends, even strangers. Many people who knew Art will have a copy – or three – of the Constitution that he gave them for their personal use.

Art is remembered by his children and grandchildren for teaching life lessons at any opportunity; work hard, save your money, invest in the stock market, get an education, and own your own home. He was rarely without a roll of change in his pockets and would hand quarters out to children at every opportunity. Winking and whistling were important skills. He also had a special fondness for ice cream.

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