Robert Foerster Obituary

Foerster
Ret. Col. Robert Foerster
August 16, 1942
November 24, 2024

It is with profound sadness that we announce that Ret. Col. Robert (Bob) Yates Foerster, of Niceville, FL, passed away on November 24, 2024. Bob was born on August 16, 1942, in Baltimore, Maryland.
Bob graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1965 alongside his close friends from the 24th Squadron with whom he had lived for all four years of his cadet career. In 1966, Bob graduated from undergraduate pilot training at Reese Air Force Base in Lubbock, TX. Bob then went onto fly a C-130 aircraft in Vietnam in support of the defense of Khe Sanh. His Air Force career was heavily linked to the Academy—he served as First Group Air Officer Commanding, 1977-1979, as Chief of Staff to the Academy Superintendent, 1979-1983, and then as Registrar and Director of Admissions until his retirement from the Air Force in 1996.
In addition to his time at the Academy, the highlights of Bob's career included serving as the Director of Operations at Pope Air Force Base in North Carolina and Wing Commander at Clark Air Base in the Philippines (then the largest airlift wing in the Pacific).
Bob was a pillar of strength for our family and his absence will forever leave a void in our hearts. Bob was an avid golfer, greatly enjoyed sailing, and had a deep connection to nature and the outdoors.
He is predeceased by his parents, Ellen Yates Foerster and Frederick Henry Foerster Jr. (USMA '39), second wife Sheila D. Foerster, and stepson Mark Larkin.
He is survived by his wife Theresa Ann Guay Foerster, first wife Linda Bishop, brothers Schuyler Foerster (Col USAF-Ret '71) and Frederick Henry Foerster III, children Katrina Varela, Leslie Presby, and Janet Sickle, as well numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.
A funeral will be held at the Air Force Academy, Memorial Pavilion, in Colorado Springs, Colorado on December 16th at 11:30 a.m.
Please RSVP to Katrina Varela (408) 394-5845 for the luncheon afterwards.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in his name to either of the following non-profits:
- Humane Society International: https://www.hsi.org
- Care: https://www.care.org
The most important things in Bob's life were family, friends, the Academy, and close relations between the Academy and Colorado Springs.