Dieter Forster

Age 86 of Philadelphia, PA Dieter died peacefully at home in Center City after several months of declining health. He was born to Willi and Martha (Kienzle) Forster in Gaildorf, Germany and graduated from the University of Stuttgart before earning a PhD at Harvard University in 1969. After teaching several years at Columbia University and the University of Chicago, Dieter joined the physics faculty at Temple University in 1974, becoming a Full Professor in 1977. He retired as Professor Emeritus in 2017. While at Temple he was for many years the Director of the Honors Program and was awarded the Great Teacher Award and named Professor of the Year (Honors). He was the author of an acclaimed book on theoretical physics in 1975 which is still in print and served for decades on the Franklin Institutes Committee on Sciences and the Arts (Physics Cluster). He was a member of the Germantown Cricket Club and the Franklin Inn Club. Primarily a scientist and proudly a teacher, Dieter was also an avid biker, tennis player, kayaker, skier (preferably alpine) and a decent piano player. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Sara “Sammy” Wheeler Forster, a sister Sigrid Giering (Oswald), a brother Uli Forster (Gabi), a sister-in-law Sue W. Mason (Dwight), a brother-in-law Fayette Brown and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a sister Gerda Beyer and sister-in-law Laurie W. Brown. His family is grateful for the care he received from the Univ. of PA hospice program and a number of dedicated Liberian caregivers. A celebration of his life will be held at a future date.